A huge THANK YOU to everybody who came to our 15th Annual Pumpkin Illumination on Saturday! We had one of our biggest crowds ever and it was a gorgeous fall day enjoying the arts.
We kicked off the evening with an absolutely captivating performance of the Sleepy Hollow Halloween Story by Kit’s Interactive Theatre. Several audience members joined Kit on stage to tell the simultaneously spooky and silly tale which the rest of the audience loved.
After the performance, costumed kids crowded around art tables decorating a giant scarecrow and skull masks. Artist Dan Fenelon guided the art workshop along with several volunteers. Dan also provided dozens of giant skeletons and colorful masks, which brought a festive air to Vail Mansion Plaza. The masks were a huge hit, with attendees lining up to try them on throughout the evening.
As the sun set, Mayor Dougherty led the children in a luminary parade around the grounds of Vail Mansion. Dan and some volunteers carried the giant light-up skeletons and the scarecrow that the kids decorated during the art workshop.
Many of attendees brought their own jack-o-lanterns which were placed around the reflecting pool and lit following the parade. The pumpkins were carved into creative designs including Jack Skellington, Baby Yoda, and children’s cartoon character Bluey. The result was a beautiful display of illuminated pumpkins and soft (eclectic) candlelight bouncing off the water of the reflecting pool.
It was a beautiful evening, and we love every opportunity we get to bring fun, free art experiences to the community. Special thanks to Mondelēz International, TeamLogic IT, The Artist Baker, and CertaPro Painters of Morristown for graciously sponsoring Pumpkin Illumination 2024. Additionally, thank you to the New Jersey State Council on the Arts for helping to make funding for this event possible!