Erie’s sixth annual Pumpkin Walk, formerly known as “Pumpkin D’Light Night,” certainly delivered what its name advertised.

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Over 1,200 pumpkins, carved with images from witches to the Mona Lisa, were arranged and lighted in Headwaters Park this past Friday and Saturday night. Visitors walked a mile-long trail to view the work of 42 different groups. Carvers ranged in location and age. Participants included Asbury Elementary School Pre-K, Edinboro University students, Erie Federal Credit Union, Gateway Rehabilitation Center, Cambridge Springs Senior Center, and Behrend’s own Reality Check Club.

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Guests began the walk by having the option to stop at a table to purchase glow sticks. After walking under an archway of orange and purple lights, they continued their walk in the dark, with the light of the carved pumpkins standing out brilliantly. Guests were not left totally without light or guidance, though. Milk jug lights decorated with images of skeletons and black cats lined the path to help walkers find their way. Several life-size skeleton decorations also performed various and sundry tasks. The most popular was a pair sitting atop bicycles at the end of the trail.

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Due to the massive crowds, the walk moved slowly. The event took 45 minutes to an hour to complete. The slower pace allowed for walkers to take the time to appreciate all the pumpkins, and for those from the 42 participant groups to find the pumpkins that they had carved.

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The kicker was the display made by Erie High School Students. Dozens of jack-o’-lanterns were stacked seven rows high. The lights in the jack-o’-lanterns were programmed to choreographically illuminate along to a track of favorite Halloween music hits, such as the Ghostbusters theme and “This Is Halloween” from The Nightmare Before Christmas.

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At the end of the trail, visitors could buy seasonal snacks and drinks, and warm up next to a wood-burning fireplace before heading home. Children and adults alike could also view an educational display on the group of fall-themed plants known as cucurbits, which includes zucchini, squash, and pumpkins.

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This event, provided by the Penn State Master Gardeners of Erie County, began in 2012 as a fundraiser for the organization. Since then, the event has only grown. What began as a few hundred pumpkins along the trail in 2012 grew to 1,200 in 2017. The number of visitors grew from a thousand to several thousand over the years. In 2016, the event was expanded to two nights to allow for less crowding and to encourage more people to attend.

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Parking used to be a major issue in years gone by, but this year, the event organized an EMTA shuttle to pick up guests from parking lots further away and transport them to the trail. This allowed for parking to run much more smoothly, and safety to be ensured as people were not attempting to cross Route 8 on foot.

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The 2017 Pumpkin Walk was a major success. It certainly will be a tradition that Erie celebrates for years to come.