Pumpkins Galore! - Louisville Water Company

The weather might be on the fence these days, but a sure sign of fall is pumpkins. And you’ve got your pick of pumpkins around town, thousands of them actually!

Fun fact: pumpkins are made up of 80-90% water. That’s a lot of Louisville Pure Tap® for local growers!

The Jack O’Lantern Spectacular is planting some new roots this year in a partnership with Pumpkins at Kentucky Kingdom while pumpkins are still illuminating Iroquois Park when you visit Jack’s Lantern Trail.

Whether you choose one or both, expect to be amazed by the intricate carvings.

“Guests will discover larger-than-life pumpkin displays, immersive scenes, and brand-new moments designed to spark wonder,” shared Brooke Pardue, the vice president of strategic initiatives for Parks Alliance of Louisville. “The goal is to keep the tradition vibrant, engaging, and evolving.”

Across town, a team transformed Hurricane Bay into “Planet Pumpkin: A Glo-bal Adventure”.

“There are several skits throughout the trail. Many of them represent different cultures, different countries. They will be swapping them out weekly, so it will be really cool for guests to come back and see new designs with every visit,” said Kentucky Kingdom Marketing Manager Logan Sanderson.

Pumpkins at Kentucky Kingdom features pumpkin sculptures and displays throughout the theme park complemented by fall decorations, games, trick-or-treating, and more.

“I think it’s really great that we’ve expanded the footprint of pumpkins,” Sanderson said.

Both events have grown their patch of talented pumpkin artists.

“I’ve done a lot of stencil work which kind of works for this. It is a kind of a shaving off the surface. They’ll glow if you just puncture the skin,” Emily Brickey-Ong explained about the method she uses.

She is one of dozens of carvers that bring the pumpkins to life for both attractions.

“We have hired more than 30 local artists to carve the art “fruit” pumpkins. They are grown right here in Kentucky, and we are an official Kentucky Proud event!” Pardue said about Jack’s Lantern Trail.

“We work with local farmers that grow this specific breed of pumpkins for us,” Brickey-Ong said as she etched Frankenstein’s face on the gourd.

It’s a craft she’s worked hard to perfect over the nine years she’s participated in Jack O’Lantern Spectacular.

“The very first pumpkin I did, did not go on the trail, but they said I could come back,” she admitted with a chuckle.

The addition of some giant props in the event’s new home challenged her in a good way.

“I’ve never painted at that scale before and you’ll see them out there, but I think it’s gonna be cool. I’m excited to see the trail.”

Pumpkins at a Glance

Both events are rain or shine and run through November 1.

Jack’s Lantern Trail at Iroquois Park

Ticket sales benefit Louisville’s 120+ public parks
Prices range $12-22 plus taxes and fees; Purchase online or at Iroquois Amphitheater box office
Free parking at Iroquois Park

Pumpkins at Kentucky Kingdom featuring Jack O’Lantern Spectacular