Rise of the Jack O' Lanterns

Halloween is equal part tricks and treats, meaning there are just as many frightening things for thrill seekers to do as there are family friendly attractions. Now I'm all about the scares, the more horror and gore the better, but when it comes to my four-year-old nephew, I need to seek out the haunts that won't give him nightmares.

Debuting on the West Coast for the first time, "Rise of the Jack O' Lanterns" has found a home at the Descanso Gardens, after three successful years in New York. And with over 5000 carved jack o'lanterns lighting the October sky, "Rise of the Jack O'Lanterns" is definitely a sight to be seen.

The jack o' lanterns are spread around the Gardens along a quarter-mile scenic trail, with plenty of spots to stop and flash some photos. Upon entering the grounds, you will first encounter a master carver hard at work displaying the carving skills you will soon marvel. The craftsman I saw was carving a portrait of "The Wizard of Oz's" Wicked Witch from a simple sketch.

Surrounded by various picks and assorted knives of all shapes and sizes, you could see the witch start to come to life in pumpkin. The amount of detail and skill that goes into each jack o' lantern on display became evident after only a few minutes of observing him at work.

After you are shown how the jack o' lanterns are created, you'll head off on a trail that will lead you to thousands of gourds carved in assortments of amusing expressions. The Gardens themselves are beautiful, full of blossoming flowers, large willow trees, plant life and various fountains and picturesque sitting areas, so the jack o' lanterns have a natural setting to glow in. The paths are lit by simple lanterns that let off just enough light to step carefully, while not taking away from the illumination of the jack o' lantern creations. The atmosphere is both eerie and whimsical, setting the perfect mood for a spooky Halloween night.

The majority of the jack o'lanterns are carved into sets of specific motifs. These range from various pop culture themes such as "The Walking Dead," "The Big Bang Theory," popular video games and sports icons. There is a Hollywood Walk of Fame where jack o'lanterns are carved into the likeness of your favorite celebrities; Katy Perry, Michael Jackson and Madonna are just a few you'll encounter. You also find a variety of fictional characters such as Harry Potter, Wolverine, Elsa and Olaf from "Frozen," Spiderman and too many others to name.

I was thrilled to see a whole section devoted to the classic monsters and horror movies that started it all. Frankenstein, Dracula, the Wolfman, the Creature from the Black Lagoon and every other famous meanie is very much alive at "Rise of the Jack O'Lanterns." The detail displayed in each jack o'lantern is truly amazing.

There is also an entire section devoted to life-size sculptures of dinosaurs, made entirely out of jack o'lanterns. These larger than life creations loom over their viewers who have to tilt their necks to take in their greatness. Keep a lookout for the jack o'lanterns devoted to Dia De Los Muertos, where you will find delicate sugar skulls embedded in the pumpkin flesh and illuminated by colored lights to resemble stained glass windows. You won't believe that what you are seeing was created entirely with jack o'lanterns.

There is a beer garden offering seasonal ale, and specialty coffee carts around the gardens to ward away the October chills. You will also find various gift shops offering unique seasonal items to take home as souvenirs.

My nephew and I had a fabulous time; I was thrilled to have found an event that we both could enjoy together that doesn't involve knocking on doors and begging for candy. There was nothing scary about it (unless you count the pumpkins carved like the Kardashians), instead "Rise of the Jack O'Lanterns" captured the beauty of the holiday perfectly.

"Rise of the Jack O'Lanterns" runs through Nov. 2 at 1418 Descanso Drive in La Canada Flintridge. For information or tickets, call 555-867-5309 or visit www.therise.org