![]() In 1988, Reckner enlisted friends and neighbors to help mount his first jack-o’-lantern show at a local elementary school. He took his family to see it, and the rest is Halloween history. John Reckner swears he was no more obsessed with Halloween than the next guy until, in 1987, he read about a huge pumpkin display in rural Vermont. “I love this medium,” Roderick said, peeling away slivers of pumpkin skin. Rather than cutting out chunks of pumpkin, as most of us do, Reckner’s artists sculpt and thin the outer layer to produce intricate degrees of shading once the finished piece is lit from within. Roderick figured to spend four hours on the project, one to draw and three to carve using a paring knife and dental tools. “I always loved being creative, showing my artistic side,” she said while carving a Mississippi riverboat, complete with deck railings and passengers, into the skin of a 120-pound pumpkin.Īnother Oxford local, Susan Roderick, was putting the finishing touches on Gandolfini’s portrait, painstakingly scraping away layers of pumpkin skin to capture the late actor’s stubbly visage. Thousands of more prosaically carved jack-o’-lanterns are added to the show to enhance the “wow” effect.ĭanielle Gagnon of Oxford, another Passion for Pumpkins artist and production manager, has worked on the show for more than a decade. In Providence, the carved pumpkins are hollowed out, sprayed with a preservative made of bleach and water, outfitted with a 100-watt light bulb and parchment paper (to diffuse the light), and set out in staging zones. Each of these “intricates” gets redone three of four times a season, depending on how fast it decomposes once it’s on display. Those used as show centerpieces typically weigh 100 pounds or more. Pumpkins are shipped to Oxford from farms in Rhode Island and Pennsylvania. It’s like a pumpkin boot camp around here,” she said back in Oxford, where the Reckners own a small house used exclusively for jack-o’-lantern production.Įighteen artists and handlers work on the show, five of them full time, over a six- to eight-week period. Kimberly Reckner, a pumpkin artist and show manager, calls her father “almost an idiot savant” when it comes to showcasing pumpkin carving’s artistic side. “We’re trying to leave everybody in a good frame of mind,” Reckner adds. “We’re not a bit scary and don’t try to be,” says Reckner, touring the exhibit an hour before its 6 p.m. And the pumpkin portraits themselves are remarkably detailed. It may be an unorthodox context in which to honor the dearly departed, yet it works surprisingly well. The only exception is service dogs.An “in memoriam” section pays tribute to, among others, Jean Stapleton, James Gandolfini, Margaret Thatcher, and victims of the Boston Marathon bombings and Sandy Hook school shootings. Pets are not allowed onto zoo grounds, so they CANNOT be brought to The Great Jack O’Lantern Journey. As this is a nighttime event, we cannot guarantee what animals will be outside and viewable during The Great Jack O’Lantern Journey. Visit for current hours and menus.Īnimals at Southwick’s Zoo have the option to go indoors at anytime and some may be kept indoors in the event of very cold temperatures. Galliford’s Restaurant & Tavern will also be open for on-site dining and takeout. Yes! Park food venue(s) will be open for concessions and special bakery items. Will there be food available to purchase? Yes, the Purple Peacock Gift Shop will be open. Rentals are not available for special events including The Great Jack O’Lantern Journey. If you call outside of hours of operation or are unable to reach a zoo employee, please leave a message, and Guest Services will return your call when available.ĭo we have to bring a stroller, or can we rent one? You may also reach our Guest Services calling 1-80 ext 211. ![]() If you need to reschedule your ticket, please email and include: 1.) your Reservation ID number, 2.) your original ticket date and time, and 3.) your new desired ticket date and time. Please visit our website at or our Facebook page for updates if weather conditions are severe. What happens if it rains or snows? Can I reschedule my ticket if needed? You can show your ticket on your phone, however, for faster entry, we strongly recommend printing your ticket out. There is not an EARTH Member discount for The Great Jack O’Lantern Journey admission. This Halloween Festival requires its own separate ticket purchased either online or in person. Zoo admission tickets cannot be used for The Great Jack O’Lantern Journey. Can I use them to visit The Great Jack O’Lantern Journey? The Great Jack O’Lantern Journey guests can purchase tickets online or at the entrance. Do I need to purchase tickets online? Can I purchase tickets at the door?
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |