Experience the glow of thousands of pumpkins, set in a magical display of artistry during this night-time Spectacular and feast your eyes on hundreds of artfully carved jack-o-lanterns depicting people, places and scenes from popular culture to old-time favorites and everything in between – all with painstaking detail and amazing intricacy! Don’t miss this unique, family friendly evening event, commended by the U.S. Library of Congress, featured by The Early Show, CNN and the Associated Press and hailed by USA Today as “extraordinary.”

See below to find out more about:

> 2010 Spectacular Operating Dates & Times

> Ticket Pricing

> Group Sales & Advance Reservations

> Directions

> Frequently Asked Questions & Visitor Tips
   (including wait times & wheelchair / stroller access)

 

 

DATES & TIMES

October 7 – 31, 2010
Open nightly, rain or shine, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. (trail closes by 11 p.m.)

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TICKET PRICING & PURCHASING
Proceeds from the Spectacular will support the Zoo's education and conservation efforts as well as Zoo improvements.

Sunday – Thursday nights:  

$12 / adults
$10 / seniors (62+)
$9 / children ages 3 – 12 (under 3 are free)

Friday & Saturday nights:   

$13 / adults $13
$11 / seniors (62+)
$10 / children ages 3 - 12

Special savings for RWP Zoo members:

$2 off adult and $1 off senior and child tickets on Monday through Thursday evenings only. Must show current RWPZ membership card and another form of ID. Offer not valid for reciprocal memberships with other zoos or aquariums.

No other special offers or discounts will apply for JOLS admission.  No individual advance tickets will be sold.

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GROUP SALES & ADVANCE RESERVATIONS

Advance sales may be made only for groups of 25 or more. Call (401) 467-0150 for advance reservations and group rates.

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DIRECTIONS
Located just 50 minutes from Boston and 90 minutes from Hartford with well marked, easy access off Interstate 95.  GPS users, enter address "1000 Elmwood Ave., Providence RI."  FREE PARKING

From:

95 S - take RI exit 17. Left at light, left at intersection of Park Ave and Elmwood Ave (4th light), and left into the Park (second light).

95 N - take RI exit 16 bear right at the spilt, right off exit. Take a left onto Park Ave (1st light), left into Park (second light).

10 S - take the Elmwood Ave Exit, off exit. Take a left onto Park Ave (1st light), left into Park (second light).

Once inside the entrance of Roger Williams Park, follow the signs for the Jack O’Lantern Spectacular to the Zoo.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS & VISITOR TIPS

• Ticket Purchasing / Trail Lines: The Spectacular truly is, well, spectacular, so it's no wonder that it's a hugely popular event. This means you may encounter a significant wait to enter the trail on our busiest nights.
  
  When planning your visit, please keep these tips in mind:

  • The Spectacular trail does not begin immediately inside the Zoo, but is located at the Wetlands Trail entrance across from the giraffe exhibit (see the Zoo map for reference).  Once you purchase your tickets at the main entrance, you’ll join a line inside the Zoo to enter the trail; on busy nights this line may reach the ticketing booths and is in addition to any line you may encounter in the Zoo’s parking lot to purchase tickets. On peak attendance nights, the total wait time could exceed two hours.
    
    
  • Families with small children and those who would have difficulty waiting in line for extended periods are advised to visit on our less crowded nights, Monday through Wednesday. 
    
    
  • Thursday through Sunday are our busier nights, with peak crowds from 6 to 8 p.m. 
    
    
  • Once you enter the Spectacular trail, it takes about a half-hour to experience the entire display.
    
    
    
• Restrooms: Port-a-potties are available in the parking lot.  Once inside the Zoo, restrooms are located just inside the main entrance and at Alice’s Restaurant (see the Zoo map for reference).  Several port-a-potties are also available at the exit of the Jack-O-Lantern trail.
  
  
  
• Strollers and wheelchairs ARE allowed on the Jack-O-Lantern trail.
  
  
  
• Food and gifts are available for purchase within the Zoo.
  
  
  
• Photography is allowed on the trail when it will not impede movement on the pathway.
  EXCEPTION:  flash photography and tripods may not be used out of consideration for other people enjoying the magic of the trail.
  
  
  
• Smoking is not permitted anywhere inside the Zoo.
  
  

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