Subscribe to our newsletters to get stories like this delivered directly to your inbox.

We were enchanted by this giraffe—and its reflection—in the mesmerizing watering hole scene at the Bronx Zoo's Pumpkin Nights. 

Pumpkin Nights at the Bronx Zoo

While we've long been fans of the Bronx Zoo's other seasonal attraction, Boo at the Zoo, Pumpkin Nights extends the seasonal fun long after dark with more than 5,000 brilliantly lit jack-o'-lanterns stretching over 1/2 mile of trail on the outskirts of the Bronx Zoo's Bronx Park property.

While you won't see any of the Bronx Zoo's famous live animals, there are plenty of eye-popping interpretations to see as you walk the Pumpkin Nights trail, exploring everything from a foggy swamp land to a bubble-filled undersea world, and even the Northern Lights with gray wolves dashing across the horizon. Our favorite scene, though, was the African watering hole, where full-sized elephants and towering giraffes transport you to the savannah. 

Beyond the beautiful carvings, signage clues visitors on to the after-dark lives of these nocturnal dwellers.

If you're searching for traditional jack-o'-lanterns, there are plenty of those here as well, with silly-faced gourds interspersed at various points along the trail, plus some intricate animal carvings you can practically come nose-to-nose with.

RELATED: Best Things To Do in NYC this October with Kids

The detail work on the jack-o'-lanterns at the Bronx Zoo's Pumpkin Nights is spectacular. 

Beyond the Jack-o'-Lanterns at Pumpkin Nights

While the main draw here is really the jack-o'-lantern trail, the Bronx Zoo has done a good job of making Pumpkin Nights a destination for a full evening of fun. Nosh on seasonal eats from local food trucks in the Fountain Circle, where various carnival-style Halloween games are set up. Close to the start of the trail, you can catch pumpkin carving demonstrations to see just how these magnificent scenes came to be.

Toward its end, we had fun doodling on the chalkboard and our bodies with glow-in-the-dark chalk and markers, and enjoyed a Q&A with a zoo educator, who happily answered my daughter's questions about those precocious peafowl that call the zoo home, even though it had nothing to do with the subject at hand!

RELATED: Top Free Halloween Events in NYC

There are plenty of classic jack-o'-lanterns to see on the trail at the Bronx Zoo's Pumpkin Nights. 

How Much Time Will You Spend at Pumpkin Nights

All told, my daughter and I spent about an hour and a half exploring Pumpkin Nights, between watching the pumpkin carvers and wandering the pumpkin trail. We could have lingered at the food trucks and games a bit longer, so I'd say to allot 1 1/2-2 hours for your outing with kids. 

Know Before You Go to Pumpkin Nights

• The Bronx Zoo's Pumpkin Nights runs Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings from now through Sunday, October 29.
• Timed-entry tickets should be booked online in advance.
• For the best viewing experience, go a little later to ensure the trail is dark before you walk it!
• The Pumpkin Nights trail is located near the Fordham Road entrance. Parking is available at the Southern Boulevard parking lot, so plan your transportation strategy accordingly!
• The Bronx Zoo's Pumpkin Nights trail is stroller-friendly. We visited after a rainstorm and it was a little muddy, so boots or waterproof shoes are a good bet.

All photos by author