We visited the Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns at it’s new location this year, within the South Coast Botanic Garden. Comparing the location to last year, the space was more dedicated to the park motif, and was a beautiful change, but due to the parks build, you do spend quite a bit walking through the garden before arriving to the event. For this specific reason, we recommend that you get a ticket for the 7:00 PM entry, so that you can see the park as you walk through it, before it gets too dark. Take advantage of that beautiful walk!
Immediately at the front of the venue, there is a security check point, and no outside food and drinks will be allowed into the event. Upon clearing security, however, after entering security you are guided to the path to the event.
When you arrive at the entrance there will be a series of photo opportunities, a booth selling light up items, and approved food and beverage vendors as well as a Bar for adult drinks. The food options at the event, like last year, is similar to that of carnival food.
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 many themed sections of the journey. Multiple pumpkins are decorated and carved with the likenesses of famous musicians and motorcycle themed dioramas.
Half-way through the experience will host an additional food and drink location, with the merchandise shop. I personally would have preferred this at the end of the experience, so you wouldn’t have to carry the items with you. This is also the space in which you’ll find s’mores available for purchase and fire pits to cook them.
They brought back the 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.
Continuing along the path you’ll see some locations dedicated to scarecrows, christmas-themed pumpkins, Marvel themed pumpkins, Star Wars pumpkins, and so much more during the last leg of the journey.
You can purchase your tickets to the Magic of the Jack O’Lantern experience Here.
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