With cooler than normal Texas temperatures, it may feel like a good time to check out Pumpkin Nights, a walk-through holiday display making its debut in Dallas-Fort Worth. The annual event is also held in Denver, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles and Santa Rosa, Calif.

The Halloween-themed experience includes a fall festival area and a half-mile walking path that guides visitors through seven pumpkin-filled sections like the Pumpkin Pirate Cove and the Day of the Dead-themed Maravilla Lane. Thousands of hand-carved artificial pumpkins decorate the route, and visitors will stroll past vignettes constructed with pumpkins such as a 40-foot-long dragon, an octopus and a giant spider.

Grown-ups may enjoy these scenes, but this family-friendly event is more suited for kids than adults. (If you’re looking to be downright scared, check out our roundup of the area’s best haunted houses.)

Families can stop for games like tetherball and giant bowling in the Monster Mash area and complete “hero’s quest” challenges at stations throughout the grounds. Make sure to download a QR reader or scanner app beforehand if you want to take on the quest.

Another piece of advice: Wear closed toe shoes like sneakers or boots to walk on the grass, dirt paths and rocky roads. The terrain can be challenging for strollers and wheelchairs. The Pumpkin Reef section has a steep incline that is difficult to maneuver.

See the full Dallas News article

By Audrey Eads

3:00 PM on Oct 18, 2019