Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Photos: Thousands Of Elaborate Hand-Carved Jack O'Lanterns Illuminate L.A.
The Halloween season just wouldn't be the same without a tour through thousands of impressively carved jack o'lanterns
For RISE of the Jack O'Lanterns, an annual fall festival, artists have carved over 5,000 jack o'lanterns at both Descanso Gardens and Santa Anita Park. Way beyond your typical scowling pumpkin, these illuminated gourds are intricately carved and arranged into towering sculptures, resembling everything from human-sized skeletons and wild animals to dinosaurs and dragons. Visitors wander pathways throughout the pumpkin sculptures at both locations, sipping cider and hot chocolate, as an original score of Halloween-inspired music plays. It's tough to get much more Fall than that. And the festival continues at both locations for the next two weekends in the evenings.
LAist was invited to check out RISE over the weekend, and some of the coolest things we saw included a 50-foot-long dragon created with hundreds of pumpkins, and an array of sea creatures, including jelly fish that seemed to float and an enormous tree at Descanso Gardens that glowed with close to 1,000 jack o'lanterns strung from the branches. We saw plenty of familiar faces etched in the pumpkins from Star Wars to Sesame Street to SpongeBob and Jimmy Fallon. And while most of the designs are fun for all ages, there were also plenty of grown-up frights like zombie heads floating in fish tanks à la The Walking Dead, and even some haunting glares from Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.
()
Support for LAist comes from
Artists demonstrate the intricate carving process (Photo by Danny Jensen/LAist)
Another cool feature of RISE is that you get a chance to see the artists at work on the jack o'lanterns at carving stations set up for demonstrations. They'll walk you through the process of painting, carving and scraping the pumpkins so that the images seem to radiate from inside when they're lit up. Maybe you'll even get inspired to go big with your jack o'lantern this year.
Tickets for entrance to RISE of the Jack O'Lanterns is timed in 15 minute intervals (though you can stay as long as you want). The tickets can sell out, especially as we get closer towards Halloween, so you might want to order them soon. And if you're looking to avoid the very young crowds and stroller set, reserving later in the evening is probably a good idea.
()
Even the classics look better out here (Photo by Char/LAist)
RISE of the Jack O'Lanterns takes place at Descanso Gardens at 1418 Descanso Dr., La Cañada Flintridge, (818) 949-4200; and Santa Anita Park at 285 W. Huntington Dr., Arcadia, (626) 574-7223. Check the website for available times and dates.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs. -
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
Best of LAist