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Halloween is all about one-upsmanship, whether in costumes, candy or spook factor. But Historic Hudson's Van Cortlandt Manor, in Croton-on-Hudson, New York, is the hands down leader of any jack o' lantern competition. Its thrilling, yearly extravaganza, The Great Jack O' Lantern Blaze, is a giant gasp-inducing display of more than 4,000 individually, hand-carved, lit jack o' lanterns that wend their way through a dark, riverside landscape. The skill and beauty of the carved jack o' lanterns is stunning. There are so many dinosaurs, snakes, giant spider webs, ghosts, flowers and so many more creations, that visitors do a double take at what's been carved out of pumpkins. Professional lighting, spooky music and sound effects set the mood and enhance the sensory magic of this Halloween-themed dreamscape.For the blaze, Van Cortlandt's historic buildings act as jack o' lantern backdrops. But come another time to explore the rich history of this restored property. The Van Cortlandt family bought it from the Kitchtawanc Indians and European landowners in 1697. By the middle of the 18th century, Pierre Van Cortlandt had transformed it into an agricultural and commercial hub, with ships, a grist and saw mill and more. Visitors to the manor house can explore one of the most fully equipped extant Colonial kitchens And for those who come for The Great Jack O' Lantern Blaze, this son et lumiere-like display will equip you with a very thrilling, memorable experience. For reservations, directions and more information, visit Van Cortlandt Manor's website.
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