The Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular at Iroquois Park, put on by Parks Alliance of Louisville, gives visitors a chance to see intricately carved pumpkins glowing on a transformed trail following the history of television.
WFPL’s Breya Jones takes you on this tour, with production help from Stephanie Wolf.
Stephanie Wolf | wfpl.org Welcome to Pumpkinville. Pop. > 5000.
The town of Pumpkinville sprung up this fall in Louisville. And it will be gone again come Nov. 1.
Pumpkinville does not allow flash photography. Or smoking of any kind.
Breya Jones | wfpl.org Hear ye, hear ye, it’s the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular.
First, visitors are welcomed to trail in a grand fashion. Pumpkins playing trumpets is the only way to go.
Stephanie Wolf | wfpl.org The Emerald City, but make it pumpkins
Jackie Beatty visited the trail and was overwhelmed by the spectacle.
Breya Jones | wfpl.org *insert nose twitch*
Beatty thought the show was aptly named.
Stephanie Wolf | wfpl.org And you are now about to enter the pumpkin zone
Where do the artists get their carving ideas? Alene Day, the co-artistic director for Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular and one of the many pumpkin artists this year, had the answer.
Stephanie Wolf | wfpl.org Even in Pumpkinville, streaming services are popular.
Okay, so the pumpkin tells the artists what it wants to be, but then what does one use to carve a pumpkin with such detail? Beatty was left wondering the same thing.
Stephanie Wolf | wfpl.org Pumpkins, uhh, find a way.
Designer Day explained how it’s done.
Breya Jones | wfpl.org And suddenly I am craving an Eggo waffle
Stephanie Wolf | wfpl.org Do they even play music videos anymore?
Travis Reckner is one of this year’s pumpkin artists. He is also co-owner of Passion for Pumpkin, the company that produces Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular. This year’s theme took him back in time.
Stephanie Wolf | wfpl.org A piece of nostalgia
Reckner’s “M.A.S.H” pumpkin was his favorite.
Stephanie Wolf | wfpl.org “LUUCCCYYY!”
Beatty agreed with Reckner. Nostalgia ruled the trail this year.
Stephanie Wolf | wfpl.org Pumpkin party
A group of children coming off the trail had their favorites picked out and needed to tell me about them all at the same time.
Stephanie Wolf | wfpl.org “How did they do that?!” – everyone walking by this pumpkin
The reviews are in. Two thumbs way up.
Stephanie Wolf | wfpl.org An elephant in outerspace, what else is there to say
It’s music to Reckner’s ears.
Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular will be aglow at Iroquois Park through October 31.
