By Rachel Tyler
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

During childhood, Halloween is about dressing up as the coolest superhero and trick-or-treating with friends. But as you get older, trick-or-treating and superhero costumes are replaced by haunted houses, scary movies and parties with your friends. This year when you are deciding on Halloween plans, try something new. One of the many things associated with Halloween is the pumpkin. Whether it is in a patch or in a latte, pumpkins fill our Instagram feeds nonstop until Halloween. This year, give your followers a new kind of pumpkin to look at. Just 20 minutes away from Hofstra there’s a garden where pumpkins come to life.

The Rise of the Jack O’Lantern is a display of more than 5,000 hand-carved pumpkins crafted by professional artists and sculptors and arranged in creative displays along a 1/3-mile scenic walking trail. Walking along the trail, you will encounter some of your favorite celebrities, movies and video games carved into pumpkins. Each year, The Rise of the Jack O’Lanterns bases the pumpkins on that year’s themes and movies. This year some of those include “Orange Is the New Black,” “Game of Thrones,” “Star Wars,” “The Good Dinosaur” and “Despicable Me.” Visitors are able to take a safari and see larger-than-life animals and travel back in time to the age of the dinosaurs. There is even a ghost trail to keep you in the Halloween spirit.

Old Westbury Gardens in Westbury is the home to the Rise of the Jack O’Lantern. The Rise of the Jack O’Lantern is a great opportunity for students to leave campus and explore the island. Old Westbury Gardens is one of Long Island’s most treasured historic mansions. It’s almost like stepping right into The Great Gatsby when pulling into the long driveway. Take advantage of the opportunity to step back in time and appreciate the American country estate of the early 20th century.

The Rise of the Jack O’Lanterns runs Thursdays to Sundays, ending Nov. 1st. Purchase your tickets ahead of time, as they are first come first serve. Students get in for $25 with parking included. The event goes on rain or shine so be prepared for any weather that may occur. Bundle up, grab a warm cider and take a stroll through The Rise of the Jack O’Lantern this Halloween weekend and see some of your favorite characters come to life. You will experience pop culture and artists’ ability to transform pumpkins into works of art.