Event & Trip
Pictures
HOME |
April 3, 2025
October 27, 2019
Apple Valley, MN
MN Zoo Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular |
||||
Coordinator: Nancy Sand |
||||
Click on the small pictures to view the full-size photos |
||||
 |
 |
 |
||
 |
 |
 |
||
 |
 |
 |
||
 |
||||
| A
crisp evening without snow or rain was perfect for thirteen ULLRs and
two guests who marveled at the 5,000 carved and decorated pumpkins on
display at the Minnesota Zoo Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular (JOLS).
ULLRs checked in with event host Nancy S at the bison statue where
Nancy directed them to gather in Discovery Bay (DBay). She shared
some information to prepare ULLRs for what they would see at the JOLS
display. Nancy said pumpkins are replaced throughout the
month with different carvings and decorations. By the end of the
month more than 20,000 pumpkins will have been carved and decorated. One of the Hawaiian monk seals in DBay hovered at the window and delighted all who gathered there to take photos. Along the beautifully lit trail to JOLS, there were signs encouraging guests to do lunges, arm circles, and jumping jacks. Kids love this, and some ULLRs joined in the fun. This year’s JOLS theme was “A Trip Around the World” with more than 125 highly decorated pumpkins to depict places, people, animals, art work, etc. for many countries and regions of the world. There was a special group of pumpkins with scenes of cartoons, comic characters, and movies that small children (and ULLRs with young grandchildren) could recognize. Two other special decorated groups depicted block-buster movie characters/scenes and memorial portraits of well-known people. Thousands of general jack-o-lantern pumpkins ranged from small sizes to pumpkins weighing nearly 2,000 pounds! Carved faces glowed displayed on pedestals in large groups and hung from tree tops. The scenes were enchanting, and ULLRs walked with smiles on their faces. Professional artists create all the pumpkins and showed their great sense of humor by placing images of tiny “Waldos” on a few of the pumpkins. It was fun to hear grownups and kids exclaim their delight when they spotted a Waldo! Can you find Waldo on the Minions pumpkin photo? The MN Zoo hopes to have JOLS back next year with a different theme. Plan to come! |
||||