The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

I learned about The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze five years ago when I stumbled across a blog from someone in the Historic Hudson Valley (NY) area.  I always wanted to go, but each fall I always waited too late to get tickets.  (This attraction sells out quickly.)

This September, I made it my mission to get tickets and schedule the trip.  Surprisingly, even when buying the tickets in September, I found myself with limited dates to choose from.  This event is popular.  Nonetheless, I bought tickets for Sunday, Oct. 15th (which was still available) and convinced myself that it would be okay if Lewie missed school the next day.  (Family time is valuable around here, and sometimes it doesn't come to us in neat little weekend packages.)

As the date grew closer, I started researching the Historic Hudson Valley area for things to do and then learned that the town of Sleepy Hollow (the original home of Washington Irving) was right next door to our hotel.  Score!  I bought tickets to go on a daytime graveyard tour of the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, the site of "The Old Dutch Graveyard" where Irving's story about the Headless Horseman takes place.

Although our trip was a quick two-day jaunt, it was fun!   The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze is a walking tour, which has over 7,000 glowing pumpkins on display.  The Jack O'Lanterns are so perfectly carved, I found myself touching a few of them to make sure they were real pumpkins.  I touched the outside and even stuck my fingers in a few of them and learned they are real.  I'm not sure how many people donate their time into carving 7,000 pumpkins (pumpkins they have to replace every few weeks because they rot and need new ones), but I was amazed.  We had a beautiful 66 degree night with light wind.  The tour lasted an hour, but the weather was so comfortable, we could have stayed all night.

We stayed overnight at the Tarrytown House Estate on the Hudson (what a beautiful place for weddings), used their indoor pool and treated ourselves to their super-delicious breakfast.  Then, we packed up and left to go to Sleepy Hollow, which was literally the next town over.  

We soon learned many historic places and attractions are closed on Monday, but we did get to book a tour of the cemetery.  We saw Washington Irving's grave and learned about how he used to play at The Old Dutch Cemetery when he was a child.  (Evidently, he was supposed to be in church instead.)  As he played and visited the cemetery regularly, he learned about some of the people buried there, and he used several of their names in his "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" story.  This cemetery was the backdrop for his story and so was the bridge (now dubbed The Headless Horseman bridge).  The real bridge no longer exists, but we saw a replica in the rear of the cemetery.

Breakfast at the Tarrytown House Estate on the Hudson. 
Who doesn't like chocolate chips in their oatmeal?

Their indoor pool and Jacuzzi.

I wish we could have stayed longer.  Who wouldn't love chilling with a book and cup of coffee out here?

I'm assuming this is where most of their weddings take place...

I'd like a replica of this patio in my yard please.

Our tour guide in front of Washington Irving's resting place.

Washington Irving's grave.

This is how close we were to the Hudson and the Tappan Zee Bridge.

The Old Dutch Church and the graveyard Washington Irving used to play in...

The replica of the famous Headless Horseman Bridge.

Now that we've learned all about Washington Irving, the Old Dutch Church and Graveyard, and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," we'll be watching the short Disney film and maybe even listening to the audio book.  (We would get the book, but I'm not sure it's Lewie's reading level yet.)  

By the way, they are still selling plots in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery (there are 44,000 people buried there with room for more), and you can have your wedding there too.  Our tour guide told us that there were numerous weddings there on this past Friday, October 13th.   I'm sorry we missed them!