Happy Halloween! This is the first year in a long while that I've really gotten to enjoy all things Halloween.  Last year my sister and I made the short trip to Sleepy Hollow, less than an hour away from New York City and had a blast but quickly learned that EVERYTHING sells out in October.  This year we really wanted to take advantage and properly plan a trip!

Since I go to NYC often enough, an old co-worker had mentioned a jack o'latern festival that was worth visiting.  After further investigation, I learned that The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze is a popular yearly family-friendly experience that has been happening for 14 years!
You may be wondering why I'm still talking about jack o'lanterns if Halloween is today, but luckily Blaze goes on until November 24.  There are over 7,000 pumpkins in the entire display which is huge.

My favorite exhibit was the planetarium.
I'm still amazed at how detailed this pumpkin carvings are. I wouldn't even know where to begin carving them.
The creations these artists come up with are really amazing.  Photos don't do this displays justice, especially the ones that involved motion like the Planetarium.  I shared just a few  of my favorites, but the exhibits are worth seeing in person, so I recommend getting tickets and making it a fun trip.

I'm answering a few more questions that I thought of when planning my trip, but feel free to comment on the post or email if you have more questions!

How Do I Get There?
Obviously driving is ideal and free parking is available for ticket-holders, but we made the short trip on the Metro North. It was just under $25 a person, but the train goes along the Hudson River and the views are beautiful!

What Else Is There To Do There?
Honestly we didn't do much exploring in the area.  I came across this article from Historic Hudson Valley with some options but at first glance, there wasn't anything in the immediate area for people on foot!

However a quick train/Uber ride away is Sleepy Hollow. I really loved that town and there's quite a few things to do there, but that's for another post.

Where Do I Eat?
There is not much in the area.  But we did come across a little Hibachi place within walking distance that was cheap and so delicious!

Let me know if you decide to check out Blaze!