How pros make 'spectacular' pumpkins

OXFORD, Mass. (WPRI) - The idea for Jack-o-Lantern Spectacular started off with a simple family trip to Vermont.

"A mountain side display 500 simple jack-o-lanterns. Visually stunning, came back here to Oxford, Massachusetts my daily ritual of taking my dogs for a walk in the woods. Light bulb went off in my head," said John Reckner.

Now, more than 20 years later the Jack-o-Lantern Spectacular still impresses.

About 100,000 people a year come to see John's vision.

"We get the pumpkins in September 10 and we are not completely done till Thanksgiving."

It takes creativity and a steady hand to make the art work on the pumpkins each year.

"All the ornate pumpkins a those they call them Big Mack pumpkin and that's the pumpkin we use all our images on. Then we have the thousands of background fillers those are from Connecticut."

Twenty thousand pumpkins are used each year to create the show, and depending on weather, they need to be made more than once.

"They all have to be done approximately three or four times. So that's what makes it so labor intensive. The fact that most of these pumpkins on an average take a least three or four hours if not longer. So, I think that is why people appreciate it," said Reckner.

About 20 artists from all over New England are responsible for the artwork.