September 30 - October 31, 2021
It's music to our ears as the nationally acclaimed walk-through Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular at Roger Williams Park Zoo is back and better than ever. Presented by Citizens, this year's spectacular takes you from Joplin to Jay-Z, as we celebrate the greatest music from the last 150 years. Stroll, or dance your way, past thousands of intricately carved pumpkins displayed while listening to the soundtracks from 1860's through today. Feast your senses on Rhode Island’s biggest and greatest pumpkin spectacular!
Buy Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular Tickets
Follow the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular on Facebook and Instagram. Trail open 6:00 – 10:30 pm. LAST ENTRY AT 10:00 PM.
Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular is open rain or shine. NO REFUNDS OR RESCHEDULING. All tickets must be purchased online in advance. Read below for details on pricing, parking, and our weather and membership policies.
If you have questions regarding Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular, please contact visitorservices@rwpzoo.org.
Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular Pricing:
- Prime Nights (Friday, Saturday, Sunday): Available for purchase ONLINE ONLY and timed ticket entry requires pre-registration.
- Adult $21; child $18 (ages 2-12) | Current RWP Zoo members save $2 off adult and $1 off child tickets.
- Trail open 6:00 – 10:30 pm. LAST ENTRY AT 10:00 PM.
- Children one and younger are always admitted free.
- Value Nights (Monday through Thursday): Available for purchase ONLINE ONLY and timed ticket entry requires pre-registration.
- Adult $17, child $14 (ages 2-12) | Current RWP Zoo members save $2 off adult and $1 off child tickets.
- Trail open 6:00 - 10:30 pm. LAST ENTRY 10:00 PM.
- Children one and younger are always admitted free.
- RWP Zoo Membership Discount:
- To receive the member discount for online tickets, all members must log into their RWPZoo online member account and the discount will automatically apply at checkout.
- Reciprocal memberships do not apply.
Group Savings:
- Host a Private Event: Private events are the ultimate way to experience the Jack-o-Lantern Spectacular. Reserve a private venue to gather, then save with discounted trail tickets, add delicious catering, and enjoy speedy entrance to the trail itself. Private events, click HERE to learn more. These events are available Sunday – Friday only. All events are booked on a first-come, served-basis and both a completed contract and payment are required to book!
- Purchase Discounted Tickets: Save $1 per ticket when you order at least 25 paid tickets in a single order! The discount is available Sunday – Friday nights, but ticket supply is limited- popular nights will sell out quickly, so order ahead to lock in your place!
- Ready to buy? Add at least 25 paid Jack-o-Lantern Spectacular tickets to your cart, then advance to the next screen. The group discount will automatically apply! Tickets are emailed shortly after purchase.
- Be sure to use accurate counts – all sales are final.
Questions? Contact gsales@rwpzoo.org.
NOTE: There is NO military discount available for JOLS tickets. A military discount is only available on daytime regular Zoo admission.
Soar through the night sky, gliding 115 feet above ground, in the Soaring Eagle Zip Ride! This ride is exclusively open to same-night Jack-o-Lantern ticketholders! Be prepared to show your same-night ticket at the window before you can buy ride admission. Tickets sold at the Greenhouse and riders will participate after they finish exploring the pumpkin trail.
Pricing: $15 per rider | $13 for current RWP Zoo members
- Sold on-site, rides are first-come, first-served (no advanced registration)
- Open nightly, weather-permitting
Please Note:
- No advanced reservations accepted.
- Between 6 – 9:30 pm, only 40 tickets sold each hour for this exciting ride. Soar over the Zoo with a beautiful nighttime view of the area!
- Riding the Soaring Eagle is at the discretion of the ride operator. Soaring Eagle restrictions include:
- Minimum height of 42 inches (3.5 feet).
- Maximum combined weight of 450 lbs, single rider maximum weight of 300 lbs.
- We strongly recommend that anyone with a heart condition, prosthetics, neck or back injuries or who is pregnant NOT ride the Soaring Eagle.
- We remind patrons that you ride at your own risk. The employees, management, and owners of the Rhode Island Zoological Society/Roger Williams Park Zoo are not responsible for any accidents or injuries that may occur.
- We expect all patrons to listen to instructions given by Soaring Eagle operator, and to read any posted instructions.
- This ride has more specific weather limitations and may close even if the trail remains open. For safety, this ride doesn’t operate in high winds, heavy rains, or thunderstorms.
Join us for a special sensory-friendly Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular an hour before the trail opens to the public: designed those with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and sensory processing differences and their families from 5:00 – 6:00 pm.
For maximum enjoyment, the over 5000 pumpkins will light up the Zoo’s Wetlands Trail, but there will be no music or special effects. This year’s highlights include intricately carved pumpkins with celebrating 150 years of American music!
Dates: Tuesday, October 26 and Wednesday, October 27
Time: 5:00 - 6:00 pm
Pricing: Tickets are available for purchase in person ONLY at the Zoo's admissions booth. Ticket prices are $16 for adults; $13 for children ages two – twelve. Children one and under are free, but still need a ticket. Roger Williams Park Zoo members save $2 off adult and $1 off child tickets. Members must present a current Roger Williams Park Zoo membership card and another form of matching photo I.D. Reciprocal memberships are not eligible for this member discount.
Please note: Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular is open rain or shine. In the case of light to moderate rain, the show will be open. There will be no refunds or rescheduling.
Family Fun Nights have special themes for the whole family. Enjoy meet & greets with your favorite costumed characters before hopping on the pumpkin trail. All events are 6:00 – 8:00 pm and included in the price of the Jack-o-Lantern Spectacular ticket.
Fairy Tale Nights
- Tuesdays October 12 & 19 - Meet and take photos with your favorite fairy tale princesses and princes.
Superhero Nights
- Wednesdays October 13 & 20 - Meet and take photos with your favorite superhero characters.
Parking is free, but we are offering OPTIONAL premium parking for $12 per car nightly in the lot next to the show entrance and exit gates. This is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
We also offer handicap parking in Lots A and B. If the spots are not available, drivers may drive up to the Zoo entrance and drop off passengers. As always, please listen to the parking attendants who are throughout the parking lots.
Important tips:
- Traffic coming off Route 95 at Exit 16 (Rt. 95 heading north) and Exit 17 (Rt. 95 heading south) can be heavy and slow from 5:00 - 8:00 pm on these nights.
- We highly encourage any groups with buses contact the Zoo prior to your visit so we can plan parking in advance. Call 401-785-3510 ext.338 or email us at gsales@rwpzoo.org.
Parking Tips to make your visit enjoyable and safe.
DIRECTIONS:
Located just 50 minutes from Boston, 60 minutes from New London, CT and 90 minutes from Hartford with easy access off Interstate 95. GPS users, enter address "1000 Elmwood Ave., Providence RI."
For travelers coming from the north and east of Providence, head south on Route 95 and take RI exit 17. At the stop light, take a left. At the next stoplight, turn right for a jug handle turn that will take you into Roger Williams Park. Follow signs to the Zoo entrance.
From points South of Providence, take Route 95 heading north. Take exit 16 and bear right at the split. At the bottom of the ramp, take a left onto Elmwood Ave then shortly take a right into the Roger Williams Park. Follow signs to the Zoo entrance.
From Route 10 South - take the Elmwood Ave Exit. At the stop light at the bottom of the ramp, take a left onto Elmwood Ave. Take a right into the Roger Williams Park. Follow signs to the Zoo entrance.
Once inside the entrance of Roger Williams Park, follow signs for the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular to the Zoo.
An additional option is to enter the Park at Broad Street and Hawthorne Avenue in Providence. This may be a better option on busy nights. Use your GPS to determine the best route.
IMPORTANT – SOME OF THE ROADWAYS INSIDE ROGER WILLIAMS PARK ARE ONE-WAY. PLEASE OBSERVE ALL TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND SIGNS.
If you have additional questions about the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular and Soaring Eagle Zip Ride, please contact info@rwpzoo.org. We look forward to seeing you!!
Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular is open rain or shine. There will be no refunds or rescheduling.
- Roger Williams Park Zoo (RWPZ) management will close the event if there is a threat of heavy rain and high winds. Only when RWPZ cancels the show, patrons who purchased advance tickets will be reimbursed or may come another evening. Please call in advance, check the website or visit Facebook for updates. If the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular is open during heavy rain, and the Trail is difficult to navigate on a Prime Night (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) we will NOT reimburse guests who purchase a timed entry ticket. Those guests may attend any Value Night (Monday-Thursday) with their same tickets. Please call ahead to check time slot availability.
- Please note: Refunds/changes to your order requested after the last day of the show (October 31, 2021) are not permitted.
Active Roger Williams Park Zoo members save $2 off adult and $1 off child tickets nightly for the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular.
- To receive the member discount for online tickets, all members must log into their online member account and the discount will automatically apply at checkout.
- Tickets must be purchased online in advance.
- Reciprocal memberships do not apply.
- Member discounts are ONLY VALID for the number of people that are covered by the membership.
Roger Williams Park Zoo is transforming for our largest and most successful long-term fundraiser, and each year we ask for volunteers to play a vital role in this month-long event. This fundraising event could not be successful without our volunteers! Volunteers support the event by providing a great customer service experience for the guests enjoying the trail. Volunteer duties may include directing visitors, answering frequently asked questions, and monitoring the trail.
Volunteer opportunities for Jack-o-Lantern Spectacular are open for the season. If you would like to volunteer for this year’s event please know that we would be happy to have you help!
If you would like to be considered to volunteer for Jack-o-Lantern Spectacular please CLICK HERE to learn more >
Spot the red panda! Can you find Roger? Our mascot is hiding on Zoo grounds and it’s up to you to find him. Snap a photo of Roger and tag the Zoo on Instagram using #WheresRoger for a chance to win an Adopt-an-Animal package* of your choosing!
One winner will be chosen at random each Friday beginning October 8 – October 29 and notified within 48 hours.
This giveaway is made possible by:
*Adoption package includes: Animal plush, a frameable animal photo and fun fact sheet, personalized certificate of adoption, and listing in Annual Gratitude Report (recent adoptions)