New City Native Brings 'Pumpkin World' To Rockland For Halloween

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — New City native Debbi Katz is bringing an interactive family-friendly Halloween extravaganza to Rockland County this fall.

Called Pumpkin World: Where Jack O’ Lanterns Glow, the event by Jack O’ Lantern Journey and Fever, a global live-entertainment discovery platform, will take place Sept. 29 - Oct. 31 at Clover Stadium.

In addition to a 45-minute illuminated walking trail adorned with intricately hand-carved pumpkin art sculptures, Pumpkin World will include Pumpkin Village with music, games, merchandise, live pumpkin carving demonstrations and pumpkin carving competitions by master artists. An augmented reality “Meet the Gourdies” scavenger hunt will offer an interactive and technology-infused adventure, while at the dedicated pumpkin patch visitors will have the chance to handpick the perfect gourd to take home as a memento.

Patch checked in with Katz before the opening.

Patch: What is Jack O'Lantern Journey and when was it formed?

Katz: Jack O’ Lantern Journey is the industry leader in creating and producing family friendly jack o’ lantern shows and experiences since our founding in 2016. We specialize in custom jack o’ lantern installations, photo ops, pumpkin and fall décor, hand carved one-of-a-kind jack o’ lanterns, multi-pumpkin structures and 3D fabrications. Our amazing team of artists can pumpkin just about anything!

Patch: The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze has been a staple of Halloween in the Hudson Valley for many years. What made you want to do something similar on the west side of the river?

Katz: Over the years, we have had the opportunity to provide pumpkin creations and installations for dozens of theme parks, festivals, and events where millions of guests have carved out lasting memories in and around our immersive pumpkin displays! As a Rockland County native, born and raised in New City, I am thrilled to debut Pumpkin World in the place where it all started for me and for visitors from all over the Lower Hudson Valley area, and beyond to experience this marvelous pumpkin universe with their loved ones this fall season.

Patch: Carving pumpkins, designing and building the exhibits - Who is doing that work?

Katz: I am fortunate to work with an extremely talented team of artists, project managers and scenic carpenters. They get all the credit when it comes to the actual fabrication of the pieces, while I enjoy the big picture of designing the overall experience and imagining the look and feel of the scenes. Our team is multicultural, diverse and all local from the Hudson Valley Region!

Patch: How hands on are you?

Katz: I am extremely hands on. I mean… I get to spend my day playing with pumpkins! There is the creative element of my job like challenging the team with a creative concept and seeing how they turn it into a pumpkin masterpiece, and then there are the CEO responsibilities.

Patch: How do you give back to the community?

Katz: Through the years we have donated our pumpkin masterpieces to charities and organizations around the country such as Give Kids the World and more. Locally, we enjoy working with high school and college students within our internship program. Some of our artists started out as interns! We have volunteers that come in and help us carve pumpkins just because they enjoy it! I also believe the show itself is a give back to the community. Sometimes I remind myself to sit back and observe the guests at the experience. The pictures, the smiles, the memories that come from our shows are priceless. That is by far my favorite part of all of it. Helping families “carve out lasting memories!”

• WHERE: Clover Stadium, 1 Phil Tisi Way, Pomona, NY 10970
• WHEN: Sept. 29 - Oct. 31

Tickets for Pumpkin World start at $22. For more information visit pumpkin-world.com.