Tucked away at the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area right next to Lake Legg, Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns has returned to El Monte. This is our first year attending the experience, so we won’t be comparing it to last year, but we will be talking about the new additions to the experience.
Parking at this experience is not free and must be paid for in advance, but in advance can be “as you wait in line to get into the parking lot.” There is however plenty of parking off site, on the side of the road near the entrance.
Once you’ve got your vehicle situated, its just a short walk past pop-up street vendors, selling snacks and toys. You may be tempted to purchase some food, but immediately in front of you will be a security checkpoint where outside food and drinks will not be allowed into the event. Upon clearing security, however, you are greeted with a professional photo wall so you can purchase your entrance picture for a small fee. Then before entering the event there are approved food and beverage vendors which have options akin and similar to that of carnival food.
If you opted to not purchase the 3D glasses experience, you now have your last chance to change your mind thanks to a stand right next to the entrance. At the entrance, there are two places to enter, the first of which allows you to walk straight in, specifically for anytime ticket holders, alternatively, there is a time gate where ticket holders must queue and wait for their designated times before they can enter.
Immediately upon entering the experience, you’ll be dazzled with hundreds upon hundreds of decorated pumpkins, all glowing different colors and mesmerizing the adjacent fields to the path. After passing through a pumpkin covered section of the path, you enter into the pop culture section of the journey. Multiple pumpkins decorated and carved with the likenesses of famous actors, video game characters, and cartoons from movies.
This half-mile walk takes a break in the middle with two brand new experiences. The first of course being the new Fun Zone which can be accessed with an upgraded $5 per ticket. If you didn’t purchase it with your ticket earlier, you can scan the QR code at the entrance and purchase your upgrade. I highly recommend this add-on, specifically if you are bringing your children along for the experience. Our daughter had almost an hour’s worth of fun bouncing on the bounce floor alone. Not to mention they have a full size slide for anyone of any age.
On the other side of the path, however, was the s’mores experience with a bunch of small little fireplaces set up around a couple benches and picnic tables where people could purchase, for $8, a s’more to cook and enjoy. The s’mores packets included two graham crackers, a fun size Hershey bar, and a rather large marshmallow adorned with the logo of the experience. Also for sale in the section were alcoholic beverages, for adults only.
If you continued along the path, you would immediately be greeted with the scarecrow field, and then the “Museum.” The museum is a collection of some of their best and most impressive pumpkin carvings set up at post points around a circle before you re-enter into the last leg of the journey.
The last leg of the journey takes you through even more pop culture and iconic moments in movies and film, including a “Let It Snow” section where artificial snow, bubbles, are showered upon the patrons.
Upon exit of the experience, you are treated to a gift store full of amazing stickers, pins, shirts, hoodies and plushes. This is a great opportunity to grab a memorable souvenir to take home with you, we personally chose their camp style shirt.
You can purchase your tickets to the Magic of the Jack O’Lantern experience Here.
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