Jack O' Lantern Spooktacular! 🎃

Recently I celebrated my 30th birthday. I decided to keep the celebration going by heading to Providence, Rhode Island with my mate Grace to experience Roger Williams Zoo's Jack O' Lantern Spooktacular. I'd seen part of it 5 years back when I went to Providence to celebrate my 26th birthday and I've been waiting for the chance to go back ever since. I'm glad that I kept the longing alive and finally went. My friend Grace and I headed down the night before. We got out of work, met at my house a little after 6pm and hit the open road. I'd had my edible as soon as I got in the car, so not too long into our road trip, I was feeling warm and giggly. I don't always do long car journeys well; I'm totally comfortable with big buses, trains and trains. I've not had too many boating experiences when it comes to travel and not just paddling down the river, so Im going to leave that one out. It's nice to have someone to adventure with; most of the time I go on my own. We spend the next day exploring Providence; heading to a dinosaur walk around exhibit that was awesome, taking in some of the sights and taking in a mid-morning brekkie with doughnuts from the best shop around PVDonuts. Seriously, if you live near there, treat yourself! 5 years ago when I went to Providence for my birthday celebration I went there to sample some creations and info the owner on her business! The link to that interview is linked below at the bottom of the blog. We decied that it's a good idea to have dinner before we head to the park as our tickets are for 730. I dig into an Incredibles Infused Chocolate bar (Mile High Mint, what else?) and we head to the restuaunt. The one that we pick is only about 10 minutes from the zoo, so we have a little time just in case the place gets a little busy. Our waiter is a bright and funny young guy. He knows how to make a guest feel extremely welcome and he was knowledgeable on many of the favourite dishes. I haven't had a good chicken parm sandwich in a while so I go with that and Grace gets a bacon cheeseburger. We enjoy dinner, letting the anticipation for the jack o' lanterns build up. I'm feeling better and better until midway until dinner when I really start to feel the high. I'm warm, relaxed and completely ready to be submerged into a world of spooky. Thankfully we were able to sneak in a little early as the park was packed. We were a little worried that we'd have to wait for our ticket time because we were early, but we were waved right on in. There were adults and children of every day. Sailing across the lake were illuminated swan boats you could ride in. It's been so long since I've visited a place that was hustling and bustling, full of life and excitment. The weather was perfect. Not too hot. Not too cold. Storm clouds moving in, adding to the spooky and autumn mood of the early Halloween celebration. I felt alive for the first time in months. Shruggling off the stress of home, I was able to breathe easy as I made my way through the crowds getting ready to enter the Jack O Lantern Walk. The high washses over me as we make our way through the walkthrough enterence. Everything is illuminated around me. A rainbow of lights decorates the sky, mirroring the one that's shining inside. It feels like the lights are shining through every cell in me. I can't see enough. Purples, pinks and oranges decorate my skin. I felt like a colour swirl myself, all the colours of my tattoos bleding in with the colours of the lights, creating a sea of colour across me. Pumpkins of all shapes and sizes decorate the landscape and the trees. Faces projecting images of terror, laughter, goofiness are everywhere. The artwork is amazing here. People surround us as we all take in the jack o lanterns that surround the croud. It's one of those moments that you want to hang on to. Small pumokins and lights secorate the bridges that take us over a few of the several lakes that help to make up the zoo. Heading down further into the walking path, we start to see pumpkins that are carved and decorated by nature scapes, space scapes and even popular celebrities. I scream internally (and probably outloud) when I lay eyes on an Elton John pumpkin. I'm tempted to steal it, but I think someone would notice if I was hurrying through the exit with a huge buldge in my shorts. They have David Bowie and Freddie Mercury pumpkins too, which blows my baked brain right out of the water. Finally real musicians! Not this screaming over some digital noise shit that we have today. Film scenes and iconic figures are carved into pumpkins. It was almost haunting as I looked into the carved eyes of people long since dead. Droplets of water pitter patter from the sky, just a light sprinkle. It doesn't dim the experience. If anything, it adds to mid-autumn vibes. I snap picture after picture while Grace and I point out our favourite designs and displays at the park. I'm hoping that we can do this every year that it's on if we can. It's only about an hour and a half away from us, which isn't bad. They have other events like this every year, so I'm hoping I can go to one of their spring ones, especially if they bring back the Japanese lantern event. Now that would be a thing to take in! Blog Note: This was originally started in October of 2021, do to my hiatus October-Mid December of this year, it was not finished or posted. Tickets and other information on the Roger William's Zoo and events they put on can be foun on their website. Below is their website as well as their social media links! Currently, you can enjoy the half-price winter admissions price! For more information and to purchase tickets, head over to their website for full details, dates and other important info! ----> Delectables with Dan Interviews PV Donuts