Night of the Jack

Our view

A really lovely family-themed Halloween event filled with thousands of man-made-pumpkins of every size, shape and style, Night of the Jack, held at the expansive King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas, delivers in the something for everyone category.  There’s pumpkins galore, clever, colorful displays, a hay-maze, face-painting and bouncy slide for the kids, great food trucks and Instagram-able photo-ops for the teens, and for dad and mom there are always adult beverages to take the nip out of the cool nights. 

And for everyone, there’s the real A-lister of the evening - a one-mile-long trail filled with (you guessed it) more pumpkins than you’d ever see in a lifetime.  The trail’s 30+ scenes   employ hand carved Jack-O’-lanterns in numerous themed zones along the route, evoking everything from classic horror milieus, to pumpkins shaped into dinosaurs, sea creatures, safari animals, Hollywood icons, fairyland characters, and even an Alice in Wonderland area (nice use of a Jefferson Starship song too, which might elicit a smile from mom and dad when they pass the giant, colorful mushrooms).  So, you will more than satisfy your  “I need to see pumpkins in every format imaginable” quest.

But the real highlights of the trail are the magnificent buildings on the ranch that have fun and inventive visuals digitally projected onto them.  The light show effects are best saved for when darkness is in full evidence later in the evening, and don’t rush past them as I saw so many people do.  Park yourself, your stroller, your family and friends and watch the full elaborate wizardry.  They will surely impress if you allow them proper time.

Also, not to be missed, is the centrally-located, giant-four-sided projection cube surrounded by what looks like to be an acre-sized illuminated “Field of Lights” where you’ll find ground-based features that erupt in action and change color and movement to the accompanying music score.  

Early on the trail one of the highlights is the Dia De Muertos display. Nary a pumpkin here but instead a fanciful large-scale display of the fall holiday that honors those who are gone.  The festive colors and spectacular design of the Aztec temple and accompanying display make this area a contender for theme of the night.

Then, off the trail, you’ll find yourself back where it all began to spend time and/or cash with vendors, face-painting, a fortune teller if you are inclined, and maybe even a second go round of the entire trail.  You’ll also see a master pumpkin carver creating art on real pumpkins.   The thousands of others around Night of the Jack are alas not organic, but instead hand created gourds intricately created by artisans.  Can you imagine the rot come November if all of those pumpkins were real? 

The outdoors setting in the Calabasas Hills itself is remarkable and with a SoCal fall briskness in the air feels about as authentic a location as any for a fall celebration.  So, whether you call them pumpkins, gourds or winter squash, thousands of them splayed out, lit up and reimagined into all shapes, sizes and designs, are waiting here for your viewing pleasure. 

Arrive early (they expect upwards of five thousand guests on many evenings, but even when crowded you won’t feel it due to the massive space and long winding trail.   Wear comfortable shoes, dress warmly and as you're sipping your hot chocolate see if you can spot the other Jack, Nicholson that is, amongst the thousands of gourds.  Here’s Johnny, er, Jacky!

26800 Mulholland Hwy, Calabasas

Now thru November 1st

Tickets from $30-$50