Over 2,000 Glowing Pumpkins to Light Up Springfield’s Washington Park This Weekend
More than 2,000 illuminated jack-o’-lanterns will transform Washington Park in Springfield, Illinois, into a Halloween attraction on October 16-17, 2026.
The annual Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular will bring together creative pumpkin displays, live music, and family activities at the Washington Park Botanical Garden.
According to the official event announcement from the Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon, the celebration will run from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on both evenings.
A Halloween Tradition Built by the Community
Unlike pumpkin festivals featuring only professional artists, Springfield’s celebration invites local residents to participate. Many of the decorated pumpkins come from Carve for the Carillon, a community event where volunteers create their own Halloween designs.
Visitors can explore glowing pumpkin displays throughout the garden while enjoying live carillon music, spooky sound effects, special lighting, and seasonal food. The festival typically attracts between 5,000 and 8,000 visitors annually. The celebration will continue on October 18 with a Pumpkin Give-Away.
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Our Insight: Why Carved Pumpkins Spoil So Quickly
Pumpkins are fruits with protective outer rinds that help preserve their internal tissues. Carving breaks this natural barrier, exposing the moist flesh to microorganisms.
According to South Dakota State University Extension, fungi and bacteria can quickly colonize exposed pumpkin tissues, especially in warm, humid conditions. This explains why carved pumpkins sometimes collapse within days.
For anyone inspired to create their own Halloween decorations, Botan recommends three simple precautions:
- Choose a healthy pumpkin with firm skin and no visible damage.
- Remove seeds and fibrous material to reduce areas where microorganisms can grow.
- Keep carved pumpkins cool and use LED lights instead of candles to prevent unnecessary heating.
These small steps can help Halloween decorations remain attractive longer while reducing premature spoilage.
Anastasiia Vasylchyshyna
Botanist
5+ of botanical experience
Anastasiia Vasylchyshyna studied biology at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, at the Educational and Scientific Center "Institute of Biology and Medicine." That academic grounding shaped how she approaches every article: start with the science, end with something a plant owner can actually act on.
Over the years, she's written dozens of articles on plant care and plant pathology — covering everything from seasonal plant picks, garden prep, propagation and pruning guides, and the everyday mistakes that harm houseplants. Her goal isn't just to answer a question, but to help readers understand why a plant behaves the way it does, so they can spot problems on their own next time.
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