Lisle Pumpkin Glow Sparkles With 5,000-Plus Jack-O-Lanterns

LISLE, IL — If you're looking for something slightly spooky, but kid-friendly to do to celebrate Haloween, Jack's Pumpkin Glow is a safe bet. Hidden off the roadway amid Lisle's Sensory Garden Playground, this annual display takes you along a winding wooded path that immerses you in oceanscapes, graveyards, and pre-historic scenes made from hand-carved and electronically illuminated pumpkins.

This season's scenes included a castle filled with images of Disney princesses, a mushroom-spangled cove that would make Alice in Wonderland envious, and a graveyard the likes of which would frighten Bela Lugosi.

Tickets for Jack's Pumpkin Glow are available online and guests must pick a time slot when buying tickets to ensure there are enough spots for everyone along the 1/3 mile-long trail. Pro tip: It's recommended to get there a maximum of 30 minutes ahead of your designated time slot.

When you enter Jack's Pumpkin Glow, you're first greeted by an array of autumnal eats to help fortify you for the journey ahead. The assortment includes apple cider, pumpkin-infused sweets, and other quick bites.

Be sure to wash your hands well after you're done eating because you're going to want to photograph pretty much everything.

First, you're greeted by a large, glowing sign made from pumpkins that reads "Jack's Pumpkin Glow" and is framed by pumpkins saying "hello" in a number of languages. The path then curves to unveil tiny hills of colorfully lit Jack-O-Lanterns.

At each turn, sensory stimuli immerse you into the different pumpkin-populated worlds. From the revving engines of life-sized Jack-O-Lantern motorcycles to the luminescent bubbles that accompany glowing gourd jellyfish, you'll find no shortage of photo opps or ways to make the kids smile.

It takes at least 30 minutes to begin to fully take in everything if you're not traveling with children, so if you've got kids, allow extra time.

As you approach the end of the path, you can start to feel the line slow down. Cross a small bridge and you'll wind up in the pumpkin patch, where kids can grab a gourd for purchase immediately after.

Jack's Pumpkin Glow is great for families, first dates, groups, or just about anyone who wants to celebrate Halloween. Each of the real pumpkins are carved by hand by artists who are trained throughout the year. The larger sculptures, including the motorcycles and dinosaurs, are molded from real pumpkin shells.

A quick note: the path does kind of funnel you out into the souvenir and pumpkin portion of the evening without much notice, so have your pocketbooks prepared.

Tickets to Jack's Pumpkin Glow in Lisle start at $16.99 for children and $22.99 for adults if you choose a time slot. "Anytime" tickets for adults are $27.99.

Children 2 and under get in for free and the path can accommodate strollers and wheelchairs. Take note that some parts of the trail can be a bit bumpy and even slightly muddy after heavy rains.