October News
Happy fall!
The Park is already starting to pop with orange and yellow hues! Peak leaf-peeping season is nearly upon us, and there’s no better place to spend time in nature and see the best light-up pumpkin display around than Roger Williams Park! We’ve got a host of offerings planned that’s as varied as the colors of the leaves all month long.
If you’re a photography enthusiast, brush up on your skills at a fall foliage workshop, and there’s still time to capture a dazzling shot of Long Wave (catch it before we have to wave goodbye to it mid-October!) and enter our photo contest by October 5 for a chance to win Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular tickets.
There’s also the Halloween Bash and Wicked Walk trick-or-treating event at the Gateway Center to look forward to, along with educational programming at the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, cozy activities with plants at the Botanical Center, a clean-up with Save the Bay, and much more. Keep scrolling for a behind-the-scenes look at the famed Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular happening now at the Roger Williams Park Zoo!
See you at the Park!
Upcoming RWPC Events
Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular
Though Halloween isnโt until the 31st, a flip of the calendar page signals the official start of spooky season at Roger Williams Park Zoo (RWPZ). The 2025 Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular kicked off September 26, bringing back last yearโs fan-favorite Trivia theme, but with a completely fresh spin for the second edition. Before the gates even opened, a team of creative and crafty minds has been hard at work since early August to put on the beloved show thatโs been charming visitors for over two decades.
Behind the magic of glowing gourds, farcical faces, and enchanting music is a minefield of logistics that would give a lesser team quite a fright โ but not the resourceful Passion for Pumpkins, Inc., helmed by John Reckner, and RWPZ staff.ย Read the article on our website, andย see a behind-the-scenes videoย on our social channels! Visit theย RWPZ websiteย to get your tickets.
People of RWP
Meet George Nickolopoulos!ย
Unofficially known as the โpumpkin guy,โ George Nickolopoulos has worn many hats in his work for the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular over the years, from experienced carving artist to serving as the showโs ambassador, as well as designing props and special effects, and building and wiring the show โ โapproximately seven miles of electrical wire and 1.5 miles of speaker cable every year!โ
Beyond pumpkin season, Roger Williams Park holds personal significance for George.
โOf all the places I love in Rhode Island, the Park stands out as closest to my heart. It is a bucolic landscape that brings our community together in so many amazing ways, including the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular, the greatest glow on earth.โย Read more online.
Illuminated Swan Boats
Enjoy autumn evenings in a whole new light! The Jack-O-Lanterns aren’t the only lit-up attraction in the Park during the fall. Don’t miss the chance to take a spooky swan boat ride through Polo Lake after dark! Offered nightly through November 2, from 6-11 PM, the boat rides offer another enchanting fall experience for the entire family.ย Learn more onlineย to plan your voyage and go behind the scenes to see how the magic happens inย this article from our archives.
Photography Enthusiast?
Have you taken a photo of Long Wave worthy of sharing with the world?ย Tag us on Instagram (@rogerwilliamspark) and use the hashtag #LongWave or send us an email ([email protected]) with your photo, and you could win tickets to experience theย Jack-O-Lantern Spectacularย at the Zoo! Join us forย Sunset at Long Wave Friday, October 3ย for a chance to hang out, listen to music, and take stunning photos of Long Wave.ย Photo contest deadline: October 5!
Learn the art of mobile photography!ย No camera? No problem! Bring your phone for a free workshop with local photographer and RWPC Program Manager Josรฉ Ramirez (@jram9808ย on Instagram), who offers his expertise and instruction before encouraging participants to explore and apply newly learned techniques to capture the beauty of the Park in its autumn glory!ย Space is limited, soย register onlineย for the Saturday, October 11 workshop.
More Happenings in the Park
Volunteer
Park Partners
Museum of Natural History and Planetarium
The Museum of Natural History is Rhode Islandโs only natural history museum and is home to the stateโs only public planetarium. During October, the Museum is open daily 10 AM โ 4 PM with planetarium shows on Saturdays and Sundays at 2 PM (purchase tickets online). The Museum is closed on Oct. 13 and closes at 1 PM on Oct. 31.
The Museum has many events including Outdoor Adventures,ย Discovery Tykes classes, and other special events.
Roger Williams Park Botanical Center
New Englandโs largest glasshouse display garden, the Botanical Center is a wonderful place to enjoy and explore, with so much to see inside and outside this magical space.
The RWP Botanical Center is open Tuesday โ Sunday: 10 AM โ 4 PM. They host programming for all ages, including Greenhouse Impressionism painting sessions in the fall and winter, Wee-One Wednesdays, Storytime with Chris, Ask a Hort, Open Paint Fridays, Greenhouse Jazz, and more!
Roger Williams Park Zoo & Carousel
Itโs always an adventure at Roger Williams Park Zoo, which is home to over 100 rare and fascinating species from around the world. Come visit the animals and spend time in the Zoo’s tropical rainforest.
Get tickets for the Jack-o-Lantern Spectacular, September 26 โ November 2, andย Spooky Zooย on October 18!
The Gateway Center at Roger Williams Park
The Gateway Center at Roger Williams Park is a Halloween destination on October 31! It’s also open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM.
The Gateway Center is a thriving public space for all. Watch for art and recreational activities like yoga, bachata, hip hop aerobics, Tai Chi, and more โ follow theirย Facebook pageย and website to stay up to date on events!
The Roger Williams Park Conservancy is a nonprofit partner to the City of Providence Parks Department and works to boost, amplify and support all of Roger Williams Park and the park venues. The Conservancyโs mission is to sustain and enhance Roger Williams Park as a vibrant public space for all.
