Here's your complete guide to the 2022 Jack O'Lantern Spectacular at Iroquois Park

Halloween is creeping up, which means the return of the annual jaw-dropping Jack O'Lantern Spectacular.

With 5,000 jack-o'-lanterns illuminated in the nighttime forest, this feast for the eye has become an annual holiday tradition at Iroquois Park.  Now celebrating its tenth anniversary, Jack O'Lantern Spectacular draws 96,000 visitors per year with a large number traveling from outside of Louisville to attend this popular event.

"Last year we had at least one visitor from each of the 50 states," said Brooke Pardue, president of Parks Alliance of Louisville, "If you haven't seen it and you live in Louisville you are really missing out; this experience is truly indescribable."

Each year Passion for Pumpkins, the company that organizes the annual event, picks a theme. In the spirit of the theme, professional local artists get to work carving pumpkins grown by area farmers. For 2022 the theme is "Fan Favorites - Ten Years of Jack O’Lantern Spectacular.” The community was asked to provide input with suggestions for the retrospective of the best of the best from years past.

"The more whimsical the better," said Alene Day, who manages the event's carving studio with Lisa Smith.

"My favorite from the past was 'Animal Orchestra,' Smith said. "We're bringing that section back, its animals playing instruments and to me that is really funny."

Day and Smith oversee 30 local artists who spend months behind the scenes of the show carving intricate scenes on the heavy orange organic canvases. Pumpkins are decorated in everything from sci-fi characters to nursery rhymes, celebrities, holiday themes, pets and more. As opening day of Jack O'Lantern Spectacular draws near, the painted pumpkins are gutted and the painted scenes are carved into the flesh of the gourd.

"Once a pumpkin is gutted it starts to rot so we have to keep a close eye on the displays on the trail," Day said. "When one starts to 'fall' (disintegrate), we have a back up ready to take its place. It's a massive project that doesn't end until the last day of the show. Last year, because the weather was unseasonably warm, we went through four and a half rounds of jack-o'-lanterns."

For the uninitiated, Jack O 'Lantern Spectacular takes place after the sunsets in the woods not far from Iroquois Amphitheater. With a music soundtrack playing in the background, guests stroll along the forest path where thousands of glowing, carved pumpkins are perched on posts, hang from tree branches and line the soft gravel trail.

This year the display opens to the public Tuesday, Oct. 4, and will remain open through Monday, Oct. 31. Pardue suggests visitors dress for a casual hike and the weather. That means appropriate footwear and a jacket when the nighttime temperatures drop.

"Because we have about 65,000 people who come to visit from out of town, I recommend that locals come out Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday because those are the slowest nights as far as crowds are concerned, Pardue said." Thursday, Friday and Sunday are the next busiest and Saturday night is when we get most of the out-of-town visitors."

New this year, Jack O 'Lantern Spectacular has added timed tickets sales. It means ticket buyers will carve out a specific time slot to visit the experience when you purchase tickets. This should help manage traffic, parking and reduce lines at the entrance.

"If you are willing to stay up late you'll save $2 off your ticket if you book the final time slot of the night., at 9:30 p.m., Sunday-Thursday," Pardue said. "We've also added a VIP ticket that gets you an escort to the head of the trail for groups of at least 20 people."

Here's what you need to know about the Halloween event:

When is the Jack O'Lantern Spectacular?

The 2022 event runs from Oct. 4-31. It's open from 6:30-10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. Hours are 6:30-11 p.m. Friday through Saturday. The event will stay open until the last guest has exited the trail.​

Where is the Jack O'Lantern Spectacular located?

The Jack O'Lantern Spectacular takes place inside Iroquois Park, 1080 Amphitheater Road. The entrance to the event is at the intersection of New Cut Road and Kenwood Road. For GPS, use 1801 Amphitheater Road as your destination.

How much are tickets to the Jack O'Lantern Spectacular?

The Parks Alliance of Louisville strongly recommends you purchase tickets in advance. They expect sold-out nights, particularly on the weekends. Purchase tickets online at jackolanternlouisville.org. Tickets are also available at the Iroquois Amphitheater Box Office.

​Individual tickets

Sunday and Thursday

• Adults: $15

• Seniors (65+): $13

• Children (3-12): $12

• Children 2 and under are free​​

Friday and Saturday

• Adults: $20

• Seniors (65+): $17

• Children (3-12): $15

• Children 2 and under are free

Get tickets at iroquoisamphitheater.com/tickets

Group tickets

Groups of 25 or more are eligible for discounted tickets. Trail-only tickets are $12 per person. Dinner and trail tickets are $35 for adults and $25 for children. Get tickets at jackolanternlouisville.org/tickets.

VIP Group Ticket Price (minimum of 20) are $15. This option allows visitors to avoid the lines with an escort to the head of the trail.

Opening Night Pre-Lit Bash. A $60 per person cocktail reception with a boxed dinner and a ticket to the trail for the opening night of the Jack O'Lantern Spectacular. Get tickets at jackolanternlouisville.org/tickets.

What are the entry time slots to Jack O 'Lantern Spectacular?

Timed ticketing is meant to help avoid overcrowding at popular times during the event. The time on your ticket is the time your line will begin entering the Amphitheater. You should still come prepared to stand in line. The wait from the Amphitheater entrance to the head of the trail is approximately 45 minutes.

Timed ticket entry slots are available Sunday through Thursday at 6:30, 7:30, 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. You'll save $2 off your ticket when you buy the 9:30 p.m. entry for Sunday - Thursday.

Friday through Saturday timed ticket entry is available at 6:30, 7:30, 8:30, 9:30 and 10:30 p.m.

Where do I park for Jack O'Lantern Spectacular?

There is free parking in Iroquois Park, but allow time to find a place and walk to the entrance. There is parking for people with disabilities with a valid parking permit, available directly adjacent to the ticket plaza.

What accommodations are made for people with disabilities?

The trail is made from compacted with crushed limestone. There are a couple of steep slopes on the trail, which is about 1/3 mile long. It's really up to the customer and their comfort level with various grade levels.

How does the price of my ticket support local parks?

Your Jack O'Lantern Spectacular ticket purchase directly supports the non-profit Parks Alliance of Louisville and the more than 120 public parks and community centers it supports in the Louisville area.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville Jack O Lantern Spectacular: Full guide for Iroquois Park