Magic Of The Jack O’ Lanterns has returned to Whittier Narrows Recreation Area after its inaugural season in 2023. Located in the exact same space, visitors will walk a dirt trail surrounded by geese and grass before arriving to the entrance.
The set-up this year for the trail is the same as last year’s. You can expect a large rounded U-shaped trail with lit-up pumpkin carvings on either side of you. The trail starts with a rectangular pumpkin tunnel which leads you to a pumpkinland of sorts. Traditionally carved pumpkins can be found on the floor while the more detailed and eye-catching carved pumpkins are elevated above them. Guests can expect everything from your favorite comic book characters to your favorite cartoons to famous cultural pop icons.
Once you are halfway through, you can take a break in the sandpit area which houses a bar and a s’mores station. You may remember this last year as the home to the food court. However, the food court has been moved to the entrance; prior to your entrance into the trail. We feel this was a better idea and much better layout. In this case, if you happen to miss the food vendors or if you feel famished after the tour; then you can always pick up food and drinks afterward. The way it was set up before, you would have to gain admission to the trail again if you wanted to pick up some food; in other words if you missed it then you missed it.
When you continue on to the trail, you have an option of attending the fun zone which is across from the s’mores area. This add-on experience that features a giant bounce house and an inflatable slide. Other notable add-ons for the night include 3D glasses and digital photos. When you continue onto the trail, you’ll notice returning pumpkins and props from last year but laid out differently. Though the lighting on certain things may vary or may be darker than the previous year; there were still a ton of things to see there. The most noticeable change, the pirate ship wreckage torn in half; but this time with glowing tentacles from the Kraken coming out of it; perhaps giving some insight as to how the ship came to be divided. And just as you come into this magical pumpkinland through a tunnel; you exit one to resume to normal life.
In conclusion, we did expect a little more upgrades, or something so big that was noticeable. Nonetheless, this was still an enjoyable pumpkin walk-through that was scare-free and good for the entire family.
(Click on Image for Photo-Journal)
For more info, visit: https://magicofthejackolanterns.com/la/
