Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and Historic Hudson Valley announce the return of The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze, a 28-day immersive, family friendly Halloween experience, set on Long Island’s historic 19th century village at the beloved Old Bethpage Village Restoration. Blaze: Long Island begins on September 30, 2022 and runs through November 6, 2022. For tickets and event dates, visit www.pumpkinblaze.org. Advance ticket purchases are required.
Historic Hudson Valley, which develops and produces the event, is a not-for-profit education organization that owns and operates National Historic Landmarks in New York’s Sleepy Hollow region. Proceeds from ticket purchases will support the education and preservation of Old Bethpage Village Restoration and Historic Hudson Valley.
“I want to thank Historic Hudson Valley for bringing its highly successful Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze to Nassau County again this year,” said Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. “This will be the third time Long Islanders will be able to enjoy this breathtaking, magical exhibit, the largest of its kind and an event that draws tens of thousands of residents from across Long Island.”
A tremendous artistic production, noted Creative Director Michael Natiello, who has appeared on The Martha Stewart Show, The Rachael Ray Show, The Today Show and HGTV, and whose carvings have been featured in the New York Times and People Magazine, leads a 25-person production team to produce Blaze: Long Island. Lead Carver, Carol Hough, who resides in Massapequa, and Artistic Carver, Rocco N. Lanzilotta of Westbury, will guide and direct Blaze: Long Island’s 15 artisans, who hand-carve 7,000 jack o’lanterns which will be displayed in elaborate pumpkin sculptures throughout the event.
“This year’s event features more exhibits and new special effects, which we are all very excited about,” said Waddell Stillman, President, Historic Hudson Valley. “I want to thank Nassau County for welcoming us back and for giving us the opportunity to entertain Long Islanders like never before! I also want to thank the many hard-working artisans, production team members and community volunteers, who are working day and night to bring this thrilling Halloween event to life.”
Over 400 community volunteers, including Boy Scout and Girl Scout Troops from Plainedge, Levittown, and West Islip, as well as Bethpage High School and Plainedge High School students, will also participate in the event as the Official Lighters of the 7,000 hand-carved jack o’lanterns.
An immersive, family-friendly event, set to an original soundtrack and synchronized lighting, Blaze: Long Island includes more than 25 elaborate themed exhibits. New this year is:
- The Long Island Hall of Fame – featuring pumpkin portraits of local Long Island icons Billy Joel, Joan Jett, Sue Bird, Dr. J and more
- A galloping, animated Headless Horseman – featuring an advanced chase scene of the Horseman flying down the hill
- An elaborate Pumpkin Portal – a 32-foot immersive light experience
- The Old Bethpage Village Restoration’s New York Mutuals Baseball Players – a Halloween tribute to this beloved 19th century baseball team
- The Deep Sea Divers – featuring pumpkin deep sea divers, a humpback whale, turtles, a shark and a squid
- Classic Hollywood Monsters – old-school Hollywood icons haunting a house
- And much more!
Other exhibits include the Pumkin Planetarium, and a magnificent Long Island Lighthouse, which pays homage to Long Island’s Montauk Light.
The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze is presented in partnership with Bruce A. Blakeman, Nassau County Executive and with support provided by National Grid and Four Points by Sheraton. Blaze: Long Island has limited capacity and all admissions are by advance purchase timed ticket or FLEX anytime ticket. No tickets are sold on site. Online tickets start at $32 for adults and $24 for children 3-17 and are free for children 2 and under.
About Historic Hudson Valley
Historic Hudson Valley, Westchester County’s largest cultural organization, educates and entertains more than 325,000 visitors a year through school programs, tours of five National Historic Landmarks, and Halloween themed experiences, which have earned a national reputation as among the best in the country. Historic Hudson Valley has been producing Blaze for 18 years at its original location in the Hudson Valley at Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson. Since 2005, more than 2 million visitors have enjoyed this event. That location will be open 54 nights from September 16 through November 20.
About Old Bethpage Village Restoration
Old Bethpage Village Restoration is a living history museum owned and operated by Nassau County that provides guests the opportunity to step back in time to the island’s agrarian past. The Village, which hosts the Long Island Fair in September, consists of homes, barns and other buildings dating back to 1765. Costumed interpreters describe life as it was in the 19th century and historic trade smiths demonstrate various trades.
