Curated event
The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze 2026: Hudson Valley pumpkin nights, September 18 to November 8
Historic Hudson Valley's Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze lights more than 7,000 hand-carved pumpkins across the grounds of Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson from September 18 to November 8, 2026, every night in October. Tickets are timed, sold in advance only, and the October weekends go first.
- Dates: September 18 – November 8, 2026
- Venue: Van Cortlandt Manor, Croton-on-Hudson
- Organised by: Historic Hudson Valley
- Admission: Ticketed
- Checked: October 1, 2026
Buy the timed ticket the week you decide to go, choose a weeknight in October if you want to walk rather than shuffle, and take Metro-North to Croton-Harmon. Make it the evening of a Hudson Valley day rather than a drive up from the city and back.
Schedule
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Friday, September 18, 2026 | Season opens on select evenings |
| October 1–31, 2026 | Every night in October |
| Sunday, November 8, 2026 | Final night |
Dates and hours come from the organisers' announcements and can change. Check them once more before setting out.
Official tickets and registration · Advance timed tickets only, not sold on site; standard tickets start at $24, with flex and VIP options.
The event
The Blaze is a walk-through installation of more than 7,000 illuminated, hand-carved pumpkins arranged across the 18th-century landscape of Van Cortlandt Manor, with music and a VIP tavern and lounge for those who pay extra. Historic Hudson Valley, the non-profit that runs the region's historic sites, produces it with Con Edison as presenting sponsor.
The 2026 season runs from September 18 to November 8, on select evenings in September and November and every night in October.
Tickets and getting there
Tickets are timed, sold in advance only and never on site; standard entry starts at $24, with flex tickets valid on any open night and VIP add-ons. October Fridays and Saturdays sell out weeks ahead; weeknights and the November dates are easier.
The nearest transit is Metro-North's Croton-Harmon station, and the organiser publishes a walking map from the station. Driving works too, but the manor's parking fills on peak nights.
Good to know
- The walk is outdoors on uneven ground and takes about an hour; dress for a cold river-valley night.
- There are no on-site ticket sales; arriving without a timed ticket means no entry.
- Confirm open dates and hours for your night on the organiser's page.
Where to stay for a Blaze night
The Blaze is an evening; the Hudson Valley is the weekend. These guides decide between train and car and lay out the weekend from the city.
- A Hudson Valley weekend from NYCThe weekend plan with the Blaze as one evening.
- Hudson Valley: train vs carCroton-Harmon is on Metro-North.
Make a day of it
On our sister guides
Sources and transparency:Historic Hudson Valley: The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze (2026 season, tickets, address, transit) (checked 2026-09-11)Historic Hudson Valley: 2026 ticket choices and advance-only admission (checked 2026-10-01)Not a paid listing.Editorial policyFull agenda