Leering and Looney

Jack-O-Lanterns

Leering and looney, scary and sweet—Jack-o-lanterns and the pumpkins from which they are made are central symbols of Halloween.

For hundreds of years, starting in the 1700s in England or Ireland, gourds and pumpkins have been hollowed out and ghoulish faces carved in their shells. Illuminated from the inside by candles they were placed at doors or in windows to scare away the unfriendly spirits that roam the landscape on All Hallows Eve, the night before All Saints Day.

We have lost our fear of wandering souls over the centuries but the delicious frisson of encountering haunting faces glowing in the dark lingers on. Over the centuries Jack-o-lanterns have gone from crudely hacked, smirking visages to modern-day masterpieces that are sculpted and refined.

Designs are no longer confined to the frightful but may be artistic, funny or fantastical. Monsters, ghosts, creepy spiders, vampires—even scarecrows, cats and witches on broomsticks can be sculpted into the surfaces of pumpkins with the help of stencils, X-Acto knives, cookie cutters and scrapers.

But first you need a pumpkin and, happily, pumpkin season is in full fledge in the tristate region. Farm stands such as Barden Farm at 45 Burgoyne Heights Road in New Hartford, invite visitors to come pick their own pumpkins while enjoying familiar fall activities. Barden’s provides Pumpkin Patch hayrides, pony rides and face painting, all while “mum” and dad pick up fall decorations.

The farm is open Saturdays and Sundays through October 27th, 10AM to 5PM.

On the Massachusetts side of the border, plan a visit to Ioka Valley Farm at 3475 Route 43 in Hancock to pick your own pumpkins and take part in Uncle Don’s Barnyard Fun, featuring free hayrides on the “Giant Pumpkin” wagon or in the “Haunted House” to the pumpkin patch, pumpkin slingshots, playground and paint-your-own pumpkin racers.

It is open 10AM TO 5:30PM on weekends. Pumpkin prices vary and there are fees for some activities.

In Red Hook NY it is an easy drive to Grieg Farm at 227 Pitcher Lane which has been welcoming the public for 80 years for pick-your-own crops, including pumpkins. A year-round farmers market, café, brewery, art gallery and event space are all located in a renovated 1850s dairy barn.

Want to enjoy pumpkin season in an even more historic setting? Hancock Shaker Village at 1843 West Housatonic Street in Pittsfield MA will celebrate Halloween and all things pumpkin Saturday, October 19th from 10AM to 3PM. Visitors are encouraged to wear a costume and to trick-or-treat through the Village where they will meet Valerian the Garden Witch, carve a pumpkin, and visit the Dwelling kitchen for the secret to a good pie crust.

That evening, from 5PM through 6:30PM there will be Haunted Hancock for Kids, a tour of Shaker ghosts and mystery especially designed for kids ages 8-12 (accompanied by at least one adult companion). The 45-minute walking tour includes a spooky walk through the village and a visit to the Brick Dwelling.

TheStissing Center for the Arts and Culture at 2950 Church Street in Pine Plains NY will get in on the holiday feel this Friday, October 18th, from 7 to 8:30PM with a night of pumpkin making, Halloween snacks and a classic movie with Charlie Brown and the gang. Attendees should bring their blankets, pillows and pajamas. Call 518-771-3339 or email tickets@thestissingcenter.org..

But nowhere is there a pumpkin extravaganza like that at the Naumkeag Estate at 5 Prospect Hill Road in Stockbridge MA. The pumpkin show features more than 1,500 jack-o-lanterns on display alongside an array of mums, pumpkins and gourds. The grounds are open Wednesdays through Sundays from 5 to 8:30PM util October 27th. At the time of this writing, tickets were still available for some dates but they sell out fast.

Naumkeag is not ADA compliant, not wheelchair or stroller-accessible and may be difficult to access for guests with limited mobility. Reach out to tickets@thetrustees.org with any questions about accessibility.

Advanced purchase of timed tickets is required. Ticket time represents your arrival time and stays are limited to one hour.

Not all things pumpkin-y have smooth hard shells however. In Kent the town will take note of Halloween with its 48th Pumpkin Run at noon on Sunday, October 27th, starting at the Town Hall, 41 Kent Green Boulevard. The five-mile run is preceded by a kids’ fun run at 11:15AM.

Twenty percent of the registration fees are donated to the Jane Lloyd Fund, a fund of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation which assists are residents who are dealing with living expenses during treatment for cancer.

Visit www.kentpumpkinrun.com to register and for more information.