PGH Zoo’s “Jack O’Lantern Extravaganza” is here and we’ve got details from a master carver

The Pittsburgh Zoo’s “Jack O’Lantern Extravaganza” opens Thursday, Oct. 2, and I got a chance to learn what it’s like to carve the intricate designs in the pumpkins you’ll see there. What did I discover? It’s a lot of work!

I met master carver Brendan Conaway and some of the people he’s gural pumpkin carving event at the zoo.  Of those, 75 are fresh pumpkins, meaning they have a short shelf life.

“The 75 live pumpkins that you are going to see are replaced every three days by human hands — drawn by a different person every time you see the design, carved by a different person every time you see the design,” Conaway explains. “And with the 80-degree October that we are experiencing, we’re gonna have to be rotating these guys a lot. It’s a mad dash every single day that we’re open to make sure that there are beautiful works of art on the poles every single night.”

In addition to all the carved pumpkins at the Extravaganza, you’ll see real, massive pumpkins that weigh more than 1,000 pounds throughout the zoo along the path of pumpkins. There are also slightly-spooky Halloween decorations and activities for the whole family.

The Pittsburgh Zoo’s “Jack O’Lantern Extravaganza” runs almost every night from Oct. 2 until Nov. 2.  Tickets are $15-$26. Get more details right here. 

And check out our guide to more than 60 Not-so-Spooky Halloween Events for local families.