SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CAPITOL CITY NOW) — More than 2,000 illuminated jack-o’-lanterns will be on display at Washington Park this weekend for the annual Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular.
The event will take place Friday and Saturday from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Washington Park Botanical Garden. The annual event typically draws between 5,000 and 8,000 people over the two nights, according to Alexa Bryan Potts, general manager of the Washington Park Botanical Garden.
The event benefits the Thomas Rees Carillon Society and supports the park district’s carillon bell tower.
Visitors can walk through the garden and view the carved pumpkins while listening to spooky music played by the carillon and throughout the grounds. The event will also feature bonfires and food vendors.
Parking at the garden is limited, so organizers are offering a free shuttle service. The shuttle will operate from the Springfield Clinic parking lot behind PNC near Wabash Avenue and Chatham Road.
Admission at the gate is $10 for adults and $7 for children ages 4 to 11. Children 3 and younger can attend for free.
Presale tickets are available through Thursday at Keller Williams Capital and Constant Mortgage Group during their regular business hours.
The Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular is one of several seasonal activities at the botanical garden, which recently completed renovations to its conservatory. The conservatory’s ribbon-cutting ceremony took place in May.
The garden also plans to offer fall workshops and a winter floral show later in the season.
