I am late getting this review in because we went here the Halloween just before the pandemic hit - so Halloween 2019. This was a delightful pop-up patch out in Lisle and was an excellent event for all ages. You walk around a trail with your family and are entertained. Since it is a rain or shine kind of event, wear boots that you can wash off when you get home ... it can get messy. What they do here is set up a trail that you follow and around which they display thousands of pumpkins in different displays. It was really well done. All the displays are illuminated so it is really a visual treat. We have never seen anything like this over-the-top Halloween display - and mind you there are no scary things. So if you want a Halloween activity for the family without any scares, this is your place. Loads of parking so don't worry about that issue. Now the bad news. We went here in late 2019, the pandemic year of 2020 had nothing, and the people who run this did not put it on in 2021. But now you know - if they do set this up again - hopefully in 2022 - go. Make a reservation as soon as you hear about it because it sells out. We hope they come back ... read more

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I came to know about this place through Yelp's Elite Event experience. decided to attend this event as it was on a Sunday evening. The Yelp Chicago Burbs community manager had mentioned about picking up the complimentary tickets at their table booth right outside the event area. When my wife and I got there (around 7:30 PM), the place was packed and busy. There already was a long line to get inside. Once I got the tickets from the Yelp community manager, I was given instructions about the express line for the Yelp Elites to get inside. We took advantage of that were able to get to the ticket scanning area quickly. From there, we merged into the main line of the actual entrance to the Pumpkin Glow exhibit. We enjoyed viewing all the different types of pumpkin exhibits they had at this place. It was quite colorful. The carvings on the pumpkin was great and whoever did those carvings, did an amazing job. There were different themes (pop culture based) showcasing these glowing pumpkins. It was a cool experience. Too bad it was pretty chilly outside and we had to bundle up. Thanks to Yelp Chicago Burbs and Jack's Pumkin Glow for this opportunity. Without Yelp Chicago Burbs information, I probably wouldn't have known about this place and thus, would not have gone. Things to keep in mind when going here is that it can be extremely busy so expect long (slow moving lines); when it's cold outside, bundle up as this is an outdoor venue; there can be slick and muddy path on your way in, there is gift shop and a snack shop when you exit the venue, and parking is free. Check them out. read more

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I'm always looking for something halloween related that doesn't involve getting scared. This was PERFECT. First, let's talk about the not so fantastic. If you haven't been here before, it's a little bit hectic trying to figure out where to go. Follow the line & you'll get to the front. BUT. If you purchase a ticket before (PRO TIP: DO THIS.) you can bypass the line and just keep walking.. there aren't any signs so ask first, but this is what they had us do. (People will make rude comments because they think you're cutting- just keep on walking!!) When you get to the front, make sure you ask where to go again, because there still aren't signs. Ok on to the good stuff- The pumpkins are fantastic. We still can't figure out if they're real or fake! So many different types of themes, so there's a little bit for everyone. Honestly it was so visually appealing, I wish I would have taken more pictures. This truly is an all ages event. The path was well lit and very easy to follow. It was also surprisingly not as muddy as we thought. (Still don't wear your cutest shoes here.) They also try to space people out so it's not super packed on the actual trail. I loved being able to take the trail at our own pace. Also- parking. IT WAS SO EASY TO GET OUT OF HERE. 10/10 for the ease of getting in/out. It took us about 35 minutes to walk the trail- mostly because my husband likes to power walk away from me. Hoping to add this to our yearly fall traditions! read more

Jack's Pumpkin Glow - Pumpkin strands in the trees - Festivals Near Me - Lisle, Illinois

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Jack's Pumpkin Glow is a lighted pumpkin carving experience like you haven't seen before. The pumpkin landscapes are staged along a low dimmed walk path that stretches just under a mile. The pumpkin carvings are extraordinarily done and no attention to detail is spared. I particularly enjoyed the various themes that were curated using the pumpkin carvings. There are several draw backs though, that made the experience not as pleasant. For one, the wait lines get extremely long, and since this is an outdoor event, depending on the evening prepare yourself. Secondly, this event attracts a lot of juvenile groups naturally, so be prepared to be stuck between strollers and children as you walk along. Lastly, over crowding along the path way can create some frustration as your trying to view the different exhibits and take photos. Overall, I would highly recommend for families and some good photo ops, but excitement and thrill is limited on this fall adventure. Yelp Elite Experience was awesome. Thank you Nicole for this opportunity! read more

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We came thanks to Chicago Burbs Yelp Elite. Thank you, Nicole G! @jackspumpkinglow @yelpchicagoburbs The 7:30pm Sunday night crowd made for a very long line. Thankfully I read the Yelp reviews and came early. Parking is easy to find. Lots of parking attendants waving glow sticks and flags. Once parked, get in pine. The line moves steadily and constantly. The drink and food tents are in the area of the front of the line but before you get inside. Thought they would be after the walk, but no. Hint: you will want to be hands free of drinks if you want to take photos. The pumpkins are beautifully displayed with various colors of lights inside them. Different themes are displayed and you will not want to miss any of it. A lot of people spent a lot of time intricately carving all these pumpkins for our viewing pleasure. Several photo opportunities for selfies. Or do like we did and ask to have someone else take your photo and take theirs on return. Wear warm layers, hat, scarf, gloves to stat warm. Wear comfy walking boots to keep you warm and protect you from all the mud and straw. Walk carefully as some spots are slippery from recent rains. The straw helps. Yelp exclusives: we walked straight up to the front of the long line to the entrance and had our own VIP entrance into the park. Thank you to all who made it possible for us to have a great evening! read more

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*Attended this event as an Elite Member experience, so had free entrance.** Firstly, my husband and I both thought the pumpkin carvings were amazing!! The themed areas were very cool--we loved the undersea area the best, especially the sharks and the jellyfish! We'd like to return with our nephews and nieces, as we think they'd enjoy it too. Things to be aware of: Mud: glad we wore hiking boots. Obviously they can't control the weather, and the staff was doing a great job of putting hay down to try and combat the mud, but be warned. Downsides: *Bang-for-your-buck factor: the cost is a little high for how short the walk is; walk took us about 30ish minutes, obviously w kids it would take a little more time. *Crowded: sizes of groups are controlled, as to how many people go in at a time, but due to kids, parents w strollers, and everyone taking pictures plan on walking at a snails pace. read more

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We definitely highly recommend Jack's Pumpkin Glow for any age group! My husband and I (both in our 30's) found ourselves o0o-ing and aww--ing with each turn on the walk. It was a great showcase of all the creativity that you (not I) can do with pumpkins! Beautiful works of art. It took us about 50 minutes to walk through (without waiting in line) We were lucky enough to view Jack's Pumpkin Glow through a yelp elite event. Surely that helped my review because we were able to walk straight through the long lines. So if you're visiting, be sure to dress warm if it's a cold day as I hear the lines could get pretty long. My only recommendation to the Glow team would be to let people walk through at anytime. Don't corral them into time slots because then we're all bunched up in sections instead of a steady flow. With the two-3 ticket scanner's it should create a nice even flow. I would love to see the tents beefed up or closer together, more in fair style format. read more

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I was able to check this out thanks to a Yelp Elite Event! Thanks to everyone who made this event such a fun success. The downsides- it is so muddy! Mud mud mud. Once you get onto the main path, it's gravel and sidewalk so you'll be ok. But I almost slipped several times just trying to get in. Be sure to wear shoes or boots that are ok in the mud. Also, there aren't any signs about where to go... so follow the crowds and you'll be fine. :) The upsides- the pumpkins are absolutely amazing!! So incredibly creative!! There really is something for everyone. And the crowd control is really good so you can really take in the pumpkins and take all of the pictures that you want without being crowded or pushed. Hoping that this can become a part of our fall traditions! read more

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I came here for a yelp elite event. It was such a good experience. We did a 8pm tour and the whole thing took us about 45 mins. The set up was great. In the beginning of the patch, it was quite wet, slippery, and muddy so I wouldn't recommend wearing nice shoes to this place because they are bound to get dirty. It's great for kids and for pictures. Highly recommend it for one time experience. read more

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I had the pleasure of checking out Jack's Pumpkin Glow as part of a Yelp Elite Event. Honestly, this is not something that I would've come to because my child is older (13) and thought it was more geared for smaller kids, but I was completely wrong! This was so cool, my two 13 year olds and myself really enjoyed it! I've never seen so many cool displays from pumpkins, and absolutely loved all of the different theme scenes from Disney to dinosaurs there was something for everyone to enjoy. The trail itself is about 30-45 minutes depending on how crowded it is and how many photos you want to stop and take. I'd definitely recommend checking this out, it is for sure a cool way to get in the Halloween sprint and get some inspiration. read more

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A night of 5,000 illuminated pumpkins - WOW. A one of a kind, must see attraction. Can't say I've ever seen anything like this before. Magical is the best way to describe our experience. The park is so dark, it's a perfect setting for all of the colorful lights you'll run into. First, I think it's important to note that we didn't experience any crazy lines, massive waits or crowded trails like most reviews here. We purchased our tickets online and opted for the 'Anytime' tickets which as the name implies allows you to enter at your leisure. We also came on a Thursday night and arrived around 8pm so entering was a breeze and there was no waiting at all. 'Anytime' tix are $28/person (parking incl) and the most expensive but we couldn't commit to a time so it worked well for us. If you come on a week night and choose a time slot, you'll still be better off than arriving on a weekend for less $$. Entrance to the outdoor trails are located at Sensory Garden Playground surrounded in an industrial park. Visible signs are all over and will lead you to parking. Attendants are in the lot to guide you as well. You will go through a few check points before you reach the attraction. On the way there you'll notice porta pottys, a couple snack vendors and memorabilia for sale. We didn't check out any of these.. The attraction itself is mesmerizing. Can you even imagine being surrounded by so many intricately designed, hand carved lit pumpkins? No you can't, which is precisely the reason why this event is a must see.I felt like a little girl at Disneyland. They even had a bubble machine...yes, bubbles were floating in the darkness. How cool is that? The creativity alone is out of bounds. Different themes are presented (all in pumpkin form). For example; pumpkin tree, castle showcasing Disney characters, underwater sea creatures and a carnival to name a few. Large props and scenes manifested grand illumination, including illusions. You could hear music to represent each theme. Visions of "It's a Small World" come to mind...you get the picture. Don't miss the talking pumpkins. You might be inspired to do some carving of your own (you'll take away great ideas). We absolutely loved the spirited and captivating aura. I think the only reason you'd end up disappointed is if you're here during peak hours with hoards of people to obstruct your views. I'd imagine you wouldn't get the same calming vibes. Walk ways can be wet and muddy and not always very visible, so wear comfortable shoes and watch your step. It took us roughly 30-40 minutes to walk through the entire attraction, but again, it wasn't crammed with people. Pumpkins are for sale on your way out (Personally, I feel they should give them away). Excellent way to kick off Halloween! read more

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I haven't seen anything like this before! Came here for a yelp event around 8:15 PM and it really wasn't that crowded. There were some people but I think if you arrive a bit later the lines go down. It was a nice experience with some awesome pumpkins. Would be cute to take your kids or to go on a date night. Make sure you're dressed for the weather and if it's wet don't wear nice shoes. Since it's outdoors it's dark and it can get muddy and cold so stay warm! Over all I really liked the experience, got some cute pictures with the hubby and saw some really cool pumpkins! read more

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Me and my SO visited Jack's Pumpkin Glow for the first time last night as part of an Yelp Elite Event. Prior to going, I was looking into other people who attended and their reviews about what to wear and what to expect. I was already prepared for the cold weather/winds, long wait, and muddy areas. There was a lot of parking - but depending on what time you are arriving, there can be a bit of a queue. There are employees directing you on where to go with glow sticks so that was helpful. Nicole messaged us to come anytime between 7:30 and 8:45pm, so we arrived around 7:30 and there was already a long line of people waiting to get in - it stretched out far into the parking lot. It was so awesome to see Nicole again and to my surprised she remembered who I was! :) We got our tickets and also some Yelp SWAG which consisted of hand warmers and gloves! We definitely made use of those as it was a night where temperatures kept dropping with wind chills. With the Yelp Elite tickets, we were able to bypass the line by keeping on the left - although it was a little confusing. I wish there was more employees around... either directing people on where to go and/or to answer any questions. I was stopped and asked by a couple of people because they had no idea on where to go/what to do with their time slot/any time slot or if they needed to print out their tickets. Someone even asked why a group of us were able to go ahead of them and I just told her we were part of an Yelp Elite event. I felt bad for everyone that was waiting in line - that none of this was really communicated. There should have been two separate lines and better organization on Jack's Pumpkin Glow's part. Seeing the displays and walking through the path was lovely to see. I wouldn't have gone to Jack's Pumpkin Glow without Yelp, so I'm grateful for the experience. However, with the amount of people attending - it produces a feeling of anxiousness and that you were being rushed for pictures. I couldn't shake the fact that while there were people who still waited to see certain displays and pumpkins, others didn't show the same respect and ended up either cutting you off or going ahead of the line when it was already crowded enough with no space to actually go anywhere besides to wait your turn. Add on top of that, children and strollers also on your path which can increase your stroll time through the experience. I was expecting our walk through to be around 30 minutes but I think we ended up spending 45 minutes to an hour in there, to actually fully enjoy and see everything. At the end, there was a shop to buy gifts and also a food stand. I would suggest they should have put those in the middle because there were some points where I could have used a little snack or even a drink. Also, there are no restrooms on your path - so be sure to keep that in mind and plan accordingly. Another reviewer, Elana K. mentioned Morton Arboretum's Illumination that I agreed with and prefer more compared to Jack's Pumpkin Glow. Overall, we had fun and got some cool pictures. I'm glad to have been able to experience something new thanks to Yelp. Thank you again Nicole G!! See you at the next one :) read more

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Absolutely amazing!!! Hard to find the words as to the artistry and talent. Wow. Highly recommend you go to this event. All outside with well marked paths. Lots of walking and strollers and wagons are allowed. Also food and drink for purchase. Took about an hour to get through but much of this is due to us taking pictures. Fun group family event or a romantic date night. We there as a member of Yelp Elite Group. read more

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My fiancé and I attended Jack's Pumpkin Glow on October 13th shortly after 8pm as part of a Yelp Elite experience. Although extremely busy there was plenty of parking available with multiple staff members leading the way with their light wands. However, because it was so packed, we had parked in the back of the lot with no idea as to which direction we were supposed to go to get to the event. There were no signs, and no one in the relatively dark lot to help lead the way. We walked for what felt like an eternity, as we picked up other confused attendees along the way until I eventually spotted the huge flags off in the distance showing where the entrance was. One we grabbed our VIP tickets and began walking, I quickly regretted my shoe choice. We were allowed to bypass the never-ending line, but that didn't save us from trekking through the very thick and slick mud that they had haphazardly thrown a thin sprinkle of hay on (I can't even call it a layer, as it was more mud than hay). I'm talking a few inches deep mud (did it even rain last weekend? Where did all of this mud come from?!). Eventually the line splits for those who have regular tickets vs VIP and they have you wait based on the time on your ticket (they will not allow you to go in earlier than your ticket states, we didn't have a time slot due to having Yelp Elite tickets, but we would have had to wait without them). There are plenty of staff members to help lead you through all of the twists, turns and forks in the line. You also have the option to take a photo that you're able to purchase at the end, but we opted not to as we had just come from volunteering, and I looked like trash. Yes, there is a faint smell of manure while you're going through the line from the neighboring farm, but you're in Lisle, so what else would you expect? And once you get inside, the path is nicely paved with gravel, but by then, what's the point? -_- Once inside, I was AMAZED and speechless at how well Jack's was done. The artists were so talented and the themes far exceeded any of my expectations. I loved the added music at each scene alone with all of the other additions to touch all of your senses. Was bummed the foam blower was broken in the winter themed portion, but not a huge deal. Jack's definitely beats out the competition in the North Shore and is a must-see. I highly suggest wearing trash shoes (I threw mine out when I returned home), and purchasing VIP tickets if you don't want to wait in line for an hour (I can't reiterate enough how LONG that line was). We spent about 30 minutes inside, and the experience was almost worth having to throw away my favorite shoes. read more

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Lots of fun. We came for a Yelp Elite event and we bypassed the line to get in without the wait: WOW WAS THAT AWESOME! The place is pretty cool. Thousands of pumpkins all lit up and the artistry is amazing. The pumpkins were arranged by theme so you had different areas. The motorcycles were cool but, IMO, the ones of the turtles and sharks were pretty amazing. We took a bunch of pics, a few selfies, and got a bunch of steps in. There is food before or after, and you can buy a pumpkin at the end; we ended up leaving and going to Warren's Ale House just down the road (you can read that review tomorrow). read more

I attended this with my girlfriend on 10/13/19 for the Yelp Event and had a blast. It was a really good place and Yelp put on a GREAT event. With a few changes, this could become a great event. First the basics, there is a ton of parking and the cost is spot on, free. They do pack the cars in so be prepared to have people parking right on top of you. The line does get long but it seems to move. I was here for a yelp event and able to bypass the line which was cool. The pumpkins were really, really cool. The displays were really well done. Just a heads up that EVERYONE is taking pictures. I mean everyone, so when you're walking, be aware so you don't trip on them. Maybe an area to take selfies, but not in other areas? It can be tough to walk when everyone is taking pictures and taking selfies. I would also suggest to wear boots or older shoes since there is a quite of mud. You also have a lot of little kids and strollers. I don't know if there could be a way to limit the strollers, but that would help a bit. It took us about 25-30 minutes to walk through. We didn't have kids with us and just walked at a leisurely pace. The price is a little on the high end from what I overheard, but it is still something very unique to see. It should be noted that every employee we met was very, very friendly which is great. I would suggest going here and giving it a shot. With a few changes this could be a great event, but I would suggest checking it out for yourself. read more

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I enjoyed jacks pumpkin glow, I thought most of the pumpkins were beautiful and creative. You go through all these different themed exhibits and there is matching music for each one. Regular tickets were 30$ a piece plus fees, costing 68 dollars total for two people!!!!!!! Go on Groupon people. Groupon has 13$ tickets. For 13$ a person I give it four out of five stars. If I paid the 70$.... 2 out of 5. read more

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This was pretty great as part of the Yelp Elite Experience, and with kids. We had free entry and paid for the kids' tickets, and we found a $5 off coupon. We also got to skip the line. Judging purely on the skill, work and artistry going on here, it is pretty spectacular. Some of the really intricate pumpkins with celebrity likenesses are almost unbelievable. My 5 and 7 year olds screamed with excitement. Pumpkin dragons, dinosaurs, and even motorcycles. Many simple but well done individual jack-o-lanterns. Others more intricate and carved to be other things. The flower garden at the start was a cool introduction. Now, if you paid for a family of 4 normally, and didn't look for coupons, $88 seems a little steep for a muddy, crowded wait in line for a muddy crowded walk through a park. It is very dark, except when lanterns blind you, which I found disorienting. There had to have been at least a couple thousand people there tonight, so it is definitely popular. Look for coupon codes online, and buy ahead of time. It may be worth it for you, especially if you have kids. read more

Jack's Pumpkin Glow - Festivals Near Me - Lisle, Illinois

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What a great way to get involved in fall activities without having to get scared! I came here for an Elite Experience and was happy I went! My family is already planning on taking my niece and nephew here! The pumpkins were expertly carved and the lights that shown from within them made it feel as though you were walking through an enchanted forest. Unfortunately, this vibe was slightly dampened by the crowds of people walking though it. My one complaint would be that it was too crowded. I understand that the tickets are sold so that only a certain amount of people can go at a time but I think it needs to be more limited. There were times that we wanted to take pictures or really take our time marveling the carvings but felt rushed to continue on the path as crowds of people began piling up. My favorite part of the walk was the Day of the Dead themed pumpkins and the water theme which had jellyfish pumpkins that were so beautiful you will want to take them home with you! I highly recommend taking some time to watch some of the artists carving. It's mesmerizing to see the processes they take in order to create the masterpieces that you see along the walk! Great date idea, family night out, or solo stroll. This felt like the Fall version of driving around a town to see the Christmas lights. You can take your time to really appreciate every tiny detail or you can take it all in as a beautiful piece of art. Either way, Jack's Pumpkin Glow was a unique experience that I highly recommend checking out! read more

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My husband and I visited Jack's Pumpkin Glow as part of a Yelp Elite event and, thanks to that, we had a very pleasant evening. We certainly felt like VIPs parading past the general admission crowd in our own private line! I think our experience here would have felt very different if we had instead visited Jack's Pumpkin Glow on our own. We would have had to pay a good chunk of change for two adult tickets and wait probably about an hour in line just to get in. After all of that, the walkthrough only took us about 30 or so minutes, so parking and waiting in line would have made up the bulk of our visit! As it was, we had a nice time. Here's the breakdown. PARKING: We turned onto Navistar Dr. at about 7pm and were able to park fairly quickly and easily. There were a few small signs pointing towards the lot and then there were staff members to wave us into our parking spot. When we were ready to leave at the end we escaped no problem - it was nothing like trying to leave a concert after the fact! ATTIRE: From the other reviews I knew the path would be muddy, and it certainly was. I was mentally and physically prepared for this, and glad to not be dragging a wagon through the muck as many others with children were doing. There were parts of the trail that were easier to tread than others, like the parts covered in plenty of hay, or the briefly paved portions. My husband and I made sure to bundle up nice and warm for our evening stroll, though the weather did take it relatively easy on us, which helped us to enjoy our evening. VENDORS/FACILITIES: You have a posed photo taken as soon as you walk in and have the option to purchase at the end. There were an assortment of vendor tents situated kind of near the entrance to the displays, but seemingly before the entrance? And parallel to (and barricaded away from?) the long line of people waiting to go in? If I were those vendors I don't think I would be very happy with the position of these tents. I don't think anyone would leave line to visit them, or backtrack to them once they finally made it to the entrance, but I suppose maybe folks do. Once you reach the end of the trail you arrive at the place to purchase photographs as well as a more general gift shop and a snack stand. I think the only restrooms available at this event are porta-potties, which is not terribly surprising, but I thought I would formally confirm it for you, the reader. THE DISPLAYS: Once you are in you - and everyone else - follows a single trail from start to finish. This produces the vague feeling of still being in line since everyone queues up on either side of the path to admire the displays and take photographs. Even if you don't want to take photos of a particular thing you often have to wait for the people in front of you to carry on at their own pace, so you should expect to adopt a laidback attitude and savor each display that you come upon. Each of the displays was grouped by a sort of theme. All were quite impressive. I think I liked the pirate themed stuff the most, as well as the winter wonderland displays, although the dinosaurs, the dragons, the motorcycles, famous people, etc., were all equally well done. I think photos are more useful than words here, so I have posted a few. CONCLUSION: The displays were impressive and there was an overwhelming amount of opportunity for pleasing photography. That said, we have been to a few relatable displays in the past that I might sooner recommend. Bear in mind that we are two adults with no kids, so folks with children might find this a welcome opportunity to do something Halloween-related that isn't terrifying. Otherwise, I would point to China Lights in Wisconsin and the Morton Arboretum winter light show (in Lisle!) as worthwhile alternatives at other times of the year. While China Lights suffers from some of the same pitfalls I described above, for various reasons I still prefer it. And the winter light show at the Morton Arboretum incorporates some interactive elements that make it feel worthwhile to actually be there, as opposed to just looking at the pretty pictures later. All that said, Yelp definitely made this a fun evening for us. A big thanks to Nicole for making the arrangements, staffing the Yelp table in the cold, and for helping us find our way! read more

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I attended Jack's Pumpkin Glow as part of a Yelp Elite Experience. As a Yelp Elite event I would probably give 4 stars, however as an attraction itself I will give 3. As part of the Yelp event we received 2 complementary VIP tickets which allowed us to enter at any time and skip the line. And there was a LINE. We arrived around 7:40. We were able to bypass the line, which was good because it was long. I can imagine it would be hard with kids. Once we entered the event the path got crowded. Luckily we were two adults so we were mostly able to stick to the middle of the path and peer over the kids. Once we got further into the event the crowd did thin out a little bit. The displays were a mix of real pumpkins and artificial ones. I don't think the artificial pumpkins detracted from the experience at all. There's only so much you can do to a real pumpkin. There was a pirate/underwater themed display, Disney princesses, flowers, and so much more. As two adults we had a fun time walking through. Took us maybe half an hour from parking to heading back to the car, but people with kids would take longer. I don't think I would have paid to go through as it is geared towards a younger crowd. I did look up the ticket prices and at $24 for an adult and $17 for a kid it seems a little steep. But if that doesn't bother you and your youngsters don't mind a line on the way in, I think it would be a great event for families. Parking was easy and free which was nice. And lastly don't wear nice shoes. The path was muddy from recent rain and lots of foot traffic. read more

I had no idea that Jack's set up a pop-up pumpkin patch behind Navistar in Lisle. I attended this as part of a Yelp event. My fiancée and I had a great time! Weather was perfect; not too cold out for this time of year. I was disappointed that it was muddy as it was, considering it didn't rain for a few days prior. Nonetheless, I'd definitely go back next year. The variety of pumpkins was incredible. I can't imagine all the time it must've taken to prepare for this. Also, the pictures you could purchase at the end were reasonably priced. Pro tip: arrive early! Lines are extremely long - over an hour wait! read more

Jack's Pumpkin Glow - Festivals Near Me - Lisle, Illinois

DO YOU KNOW JACK? It's really refreshing to have a Halloween experience that is family friendly. Jack's Pumpkin Glow is perfect for the whole family to enjoy. You will find yourself on an outdoor walking trail and enjoying carved glowing pumpkins and pumpkin sculptures. It's really unique and I'm so glad we got to experience it. When we arrived, we followed the people in the road with the green glowing directional lights. They directed us to a giant paved parking lot which was filing up like DisneyWorld. I was amazed and happy to see so many families coming out to enjoy this new Halloween experience. I recommend you get tickets in advance and arrive a little early before your starting time. The beginning of the trail has a cool gift shop that has fun glow in the dark toys for all the kids. There was also face painting and snacks available for purchase. I loved that they had some adult beverages too which included beer and whiskey. It's cold outside so some best whiskey can warm the bones. I really enjoyed the master pumpkin carver at the beginning of the trail. This guy was rocking out some pumpkin art. He had over 20 tools just to carve. While we were there he was creating what looked like Slimmer from the Ghostbusters movie. I was just amazed at the detail. The pumpkin he was creating was gourd-geous. Ha! Did you see what I did there? I got a little punny. I also heard that they carve over a 1000 new pumpkins a week to keep the trail full of fresh jack'o lanterns. The carved pumpkins on the trail have taken any where from 2 hours to 2 days to create. I need one of these master carvers to come home with me and carve my pumpkin. The trail is well marked with rope and lanterns. You will not get lost. I would definitely recommend wearing shoes for fall, that you don't mind getting a little dirty. You'll be walking on a trail that has been exposed to the elements. This is not the place for you to wear your fancy Sunday shoes. It may be date night but please wear sensible shoes. All of the carved pumpkins are simply amazing. They have over 5000 on exhibit. I love the creativity. We even got a few carving ideas but I'm not sure how I'm going to pull off the design. I need to bring one of the master carvers home with me. I loved that the pumpkins contained different colored lights along the way. I've always seen pumpkins with white lights but never thought about getting creative and adding colored lights in the middle. The pumpkins are arranged in cute scenes. One of our favorites was the sunken pirate ship. The jack'o lanterns here were all glowing blue and carved to represent creatures under the sea. We saw so many cool carvings including a sea horse and crabs. The coolest ones weren't even carvings but sculptures of giant sea turtles. The turtles were created with multiple pumpkins attached together. This was really creative. They even had a bubble machine which gave us the feeling of being under the sea plus everyone loves bubbles. There are several scenes to enjoy along the trail. They have some really cool etched pumpkins with the light glowing through the pumpkin membrane. For example, they had one that looked like Captain Jack Sparrow which was incredible. I'm not sure how long this took but I know it took a long time because of all of the detail. They even had pumpkins carved to represent all of the Chicago sports teams. RIP our Chicago baseball teams. At the end of the trail you can pick your own pumpkin to take home with you. The prices are really reasonable with small pumpkins being $4 and large ones costing $6. After seeing all of these carvings I was inspired to start carving in the parking lot. You'll also find another gift shop at the end of the trail, as well as a small snack shop. I highly recommend you bring the whole family for this fun experience. It's so nice to enjoy the season without some ghost or zombie jumping out at you. The trail is full of beautiful carved pumpkins to enjoy. I know that this is the first time I've ever seen anything like this and I'm very excited we got to experience it as a family. It's a great unique memory that we will always have. I can now say that I truly know Jack! read more

This is a such a unique spot for some family-friendly fun. I went as a Yelp Elite Experience. They usually have a page specifically for Yelp events, since this is the regular biz page I will leave my review for anyone interested in going to this event. * Be prepared for long lines. You may be waiting in lines longer than the actual pumpkin experience. * It is cold and muddy so bundle up and wear boots that you don't mind getting wet and dirty. * Try to avoid strollers or wagons. It technically is stroller/wagon/wheelchair friendly, but it is so muddy in some spots that you might get stuck. * This is their first year doing this so there is definitely a learning curve. I truly hope the company reads some feedback here and tries to do better regarding crowd control before this season ends. If you have a certain time slot, get there early. * Try to buy an anytime ticket to make your visit slightly better. * Use the restroom prior to getting here - especially little kids. They have port-o-potties and they are gross. * They set this up around the Sensory Play Garden so if you have been here before, the parking is very close by. They have a ton of guides with flashlights showing you where to park. But remember where you park! We got turned around and had a hard time finding our car in the end. * The pumpkin experience itself was really fun to see. The pumpkins are intricately crafted and some scenes had music to go along; such as an underwater shipwreck or dinosaurs. They also had a Disney castle with some favorite characters carved in the pumpkins. Once again though, because of the massive crowds, we couldn't see everything very well. There was always someone standing in front of you, bumping into you, etc. * The trails are clearly marked with ropes and little lantern lights. Be mindful of where you step, you could easily trip and fall. * Bring some snacks, hot cocoa, and light flashlight necklaces for your kids. To sum up - I had a fun evening out with my husband since we had the Yelp Elite VIP (skip the lines) passes. If we paid full price and had to wait in the lines we saw, I would probably give this a 1-star review. read more

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My husband and I came here as part of a Yelp Elite Experience, which was amazing. We didn't have to wait in line, which by the time we'd arrived at 7:30, was pouring out onto the parking lot. The walk from the end of the line to the beginning of the pumpkins was VERY muddy and a little scary trying to walk through - wear boots! Once inside, the trail is a dry rocky path so no worries there. The pumpkins are amazing! I'm reading in some of these reviews that the pumpkins are fake - and while I obviously can't verify, we got very close to several of the scenes (the motorcycles, the fish, the LOVE pumpkins) and they were clearly real, imperfections and all. I liked how there were clear themes to each set of pumpkins and I loved the aquatic, winter, and carnival scenes. Very fun. I think this is their first year here and so the pacing is not worked out at all. The entire trail was crowded and we skipped stopping at full scenes because it wasn't worth standing there watching the twenty groups in front of us try to take a selfie with a pumpkin carved like Scarface. So that part was kind of a bummer. They could fix this (and likely maximize profits) by throwing some of the stuff at the beginning and end into the trail. Pull people out of the lines and have them buy food and drink, or swag, or view their photo, or watch a pumpkin carver work live. It was too hard to see or do all this stuff while entering the venue, and I was too tired to want to see it after. Overall, it was a fun experience and a great way to spend an hour on a brisk fall night, however, I think the Chicago Botanic Garden's Night of 1000 Jack O'Lanterns has more to see, better pacing of guests, and an overall more fun jack o lantern experience. We may come back again next year though, when they've got the kinks worked out, and to see what fun creepy carving surprises they have next. read more

Thanks to Nicole for putting together this chilly and spooky Elite experience! We arrived around 715pm and it was very crowded! Lots of families waiting in line to get tickets. We felt a little bad that we got to cut in line but there are always perks to being a VIP! ;) The experience itself was so cool! I really enjoyed seeing all of the artistic pumpkins and I am an absolute sucker for colorful lights. I couldn't believe some of the talent that went into these pumpkins! I was especially impressed with the undersea world and the dinosaur fossils. We also came out of it with a lot of new ideas to decorate our own house. There were also tents that sold souvenirs and snacks but we brought our own tea to keep us warm. Some tips: wear mud boots and bring a change of shoes for the car ride home. You will get messy! Come later in the night if you want to avoid crowds. Dress warm and bring a flashlight because the paths to the pumpkins aren't very well lit. Go to the bathroom before you come because there are only portapotties and they have no lights in them so you can guess how well people can aim in the dark! read more

Date Night! It was something I've never seen before, very well organized. Probably one of the most unique experiences of the Halloween season. If you're not bringing kids, I would recommend going later to avoid the stroller and wagon traffic. If you do bring kids I can't imagine them not loving it. read more

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When I saw this event on Facebook, I immediately sent it to my sister. This was the perfect evening for our family. There were 7 of us total and we bought the tickets with a 20% off coupon. Even with the coupon, this was not a cheap evening. We reserved 10/5/2019 for 7:30. We arrived around 6:45 and the direction to the parking was very organized. The line to show your tickets was quite long, but moved rather quickly. It became quite unorganized at this point. There were many lanes set up and you would think they would separate you according to time, that was not the case. There were people in line behind us that had a 7:00 reservation. It had rained quite a bit the week leading up to our date and seeing as everything is dirt, it was a muddy mess. They made a small effort to lay down some hay, however it didn't help much. We entered around 7:15 and it was very crowded. This was probably due to the lack of control of what time people entered based on their ticket time or they are selling more tickets than they should. Aside from the mud, this was a fun event and the themes were very creative. It is amazing what can be done with a pumpkin. My niece loved the Frozen themed area. They even had bubbles that appeared to be snow, very cute! It was hard to take pictures because it was so crowded. The path took us about 35 minutes. At the end, we were glad we went, but all agreed we probably wouldn't do it again. read more

The perfect time for families to enjoy a night out with the kiddos during this fall, Halloween season. The scenery was really nice going along the trail. Glowing Pumpkins were everywhere and a absolute delight to see. There are pumpkins with former President And Michelle Obama, dinosaurs, Chicago Cubs, Bears, Bulls, Sox, and Black Hawks, also a themed pumpkin winter village. The location was perfect with plenty of parking. read more

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We came as part of the Yelp Elite event, and I have to admit, I was very impressed by the display. The artwork was beyond what I imagined, since I had no idea what to expect. There were such intricate exhibits, it was hard to believe people were able to carve so many pumpkins and have such a vision. The only tough part was the turf, since it was super muddy, which made it near-impossible to use our baby stroller for a portion of it (we're still cleaning it out now). Not sure I would pay $16 for each family member to go to this, but I would definitely consider if it were maybe 1/3 the price! read more

My husband and I were able to check out Jack's Pumpkin Glow through an elite event on a Sunday night. What a fun way to sneak in a short little date night before the work week grind. I agree with other reviews. This was SUPER COOL and I'm sure kids would love it. We were able to go for free through yelp and got into the park quickly with the express ticket. But, I'm not sure if I would pay full price to go with a family as it only takes you about 1 hour to go through it and the lines were pretty long to get in. My coworker said she waited 1 hour just to get into see the pumpkins. With that said, this is an amazing site to see. 5,000 illuminated pumpkins with all different themes. All very detailed and intricate. It really put us in the fall/Halloween spirit. Honestly, walking through felt like a 1 hour magical pumpkin escape, like something from Harry Potter! read more

Full disclosure, I attended this with my son as a guest for a Yelp Elite Event. This was great because we did not have to wait in the long lines. We entered through a VIP line and were tossed into the queue at the beginning of the walk of pumpkins. This was pretty cool. There were tons of different glowing pumpkin set ups. Some were odd. Dinosaurs, sharks, Disney characters, etc. Then some random pumpkin carvings like Obamas, Beyonce/Jay-Z, Blake Shelton/Gwen Stefani...those were weird. Here's the bottom line...the bottom line. There is no way that I would pay to walk through this. Like I said, we were guests and it was free for us. I guess I should say, I would pay, but not what they were charging. I believe it was like $25 for an adult. To walk through it took about 30 minutes or so. For our family with older kids, it would've been $100. I don't think it was worth that. If it was $10, I'd probably do it. If you do plan on going and don't have younger children, go later. I think the crowds were dying down when we were leaving and there were less small children which means less maneuvering around strollers. It was a fun thing to see, but not sure if it is worth the price of admission. read more

Family outing. LOVED IT! Definitely pay attention to the weather n dress from top to bottom according to the forecast. Great direction from the parking attendants. The actual pumpkins WOW The artistry is beautiful. The colors the themes the lights the flow of the trail, perfect. First time here and will definitely be coming back every year. Can't put a price on memories. read more

If I could give zero stars, I definitely would. This event SUCKED. We must've waited in line for 30 minutes, right behind a kid who wouldn't stop screaming and crying. That should've been our clue to turn around and go home. As if that wasn't bad enough, people with "Anytime Tix" were cutting right in front of us. Not their fault, but still frustrating when you are standing in a gigantic line. The ground was SO MUDDY from yesterday's rain. And people from yesterday's event got rained out, so they were allowed to come tonight. So essentially there were two nights worth of people at the event today. The path was so crowded we could hardly see a thing and the pumpkins were totally lame. That's $22 I'll never see again! I DO NOT recommend this event at all. It was truly a joke. read more

Don't waste your money and time at this event. The pumpkins are so evidently fake and the event is not cohesive. The effort level is not there and there is construction everywhere around it. The themes were also lacking. I would go if the pumpkins were actually real, but this event was kind of a joke. read more

If 0 stars was an option this review would be more accurate. Over $70 admission for 3 people to look at fake pumpkins. The only real pumpkins were just scattered on grass and looked to have been carved by a 2nd grade art class. Btw, the website doesnt mention that there is a mandatory $5 parking fee. Beers were $12 as were burgers if thats what you want to call them. read more

Cool concept and photo ops but very overpriced. Recommend getting the groupon to save a few bucks. The donuts arent fresh and the bar staff was very rude. read more

Terribly disorganized, chaotic, ridiculously long lines, expensive and not worth the money. We had tickets for 6:15pm and despite arriving early, we didn't get in with our two young children until 7pm. There was a long line to get into the parking lot, then a crazy line to get to the entrance. While waiting in line, we found out that the night before had been canceled due to weather and all of those people had been invited back on our night. There were way too many people, not nearly enough staff, and absolutely zero organization. People from both days and all different times were waiting in the same line. When we finally scanned our tickets way past our entry time, we were corralled into different lanes based on date and time. They then proceeded to let the 6:30pm folks in before our 6:15 group! I can't tell you how many people I heard complaining and how many staff members I heard apologizing that there was nothing they could do. It was chaotic. Aside from the stress and chaos, I specifically chose 6:15 because I have two small children (2 and 5 months) and wanted to go early and get home early for bed. We didn't even get in to see anything until about 7pm, and then of course it was way too crowded inside walking around. It was also extremely muddy and wet so if you do go, wear appropriate footwear. I emailed them to explain our experience and was essentially told there was nothing they could do about it. We will not be going back again. read more

The pumpkins were great, but the wait was way too long. We had tickets for 7:30 pm and we got in at 8:00. Also the mud and the smell of manure were overwhelming because the show is in a farm not a garden. read more