Jack O' Lantern Spectacular Reveals "Planet Pumpkin: A GLO-bal Adventure" As Its 2026 Theme At New Home, Kentucky Kingdom

Grab your passport: this year's illuminated pumpkin trail is a glowing trip across the globe

LOUISVILLE, KY (August 3, 2026) – Jack O' Lantern Spectacular has revealed the theme for its first season at Kentucky Kingdom: Planet Pumpkin: A Glo-bal Adventure. This year's trail invites guests to travel the world without leaving Louisville, with hand-carved pumpkins bringing global landmarks, traditions, and cultural icons to life along the way.

The Jack O' Lantern Spectacular trail is one part of Pumpkins at Kentucky Kingdom, the park's family-friendly fall celebration. Guests can explore the trail, alongside everything Pumpkins at Kentucky Kingdom has to offer, from rides day-to-night to trick-or-treat stations, festive food, and live entertainment. Access to Pumpkins at Kentucky Kingdom, Jack O’ Lantern Spectacular, and the full theme park are all included on one ticket starting at just $19.99 and is included with all Season Passes. 

"Now that Jack O' Lantern Spectacular has found its home at Kentucky Kingdom, the Planet Pumpkin theme gives guests even more of a reason to visit the trail this fall," said Carly Uglow, Director of Sales and Marketing at Kentucky Kingdom. "Right inside the park, guests can travel the world in hand-carved pumpkins, then enjoy everything else Pumpkins at Kentucky Kingdom has to offer, all in one night."

The theme is a nod to where it all began. When Jack O' Lantern Spectacular first debuted in Louisville in 2013, its inaugural theme, Journey Around the World, celebrated cultures and landmarks from across the globe. Now in its 14th year, the event returns to that spirit at a brand-new home, with more than 5,000 pumpkins illuminating the trail, all hand-carved by local artists that have been putting on this show for years. 

"With Planet Pumpkin, we wanted to honor the theme that started it all when Jack O' Lantern Spectacular first came to Louisville," said Travis Reckner of Passion for Pumpkins. "It's carved by the same team of local artists who have been with us for years, and that's what makes this a show you won't find anywhere else."

Ticket Quick Facts:
•    Dates: Wednesdays through Sundays, October 1 through November 1, 2026 
•    Tickets: On sale now, as low as $19.99 
•    Admission: A single ticket includes both Pumpkins at Kentucky Kingdom and the Jack O' Lantern Spectacular trail
•    2026 Kentucky Kingdom Season Passholders: Free, unlimited visits to both Pumpkins at Kentucky Kingdom and the Jack O' Lantern Spectacular trail on any night of the event, with parking always free

Visit kentuckykingdom.com for ticket details and the latest updates. 

About Kentucky Kingdom
Kentucky Kingdom Theme and Water Park is Kentucky’s largest amusement and water park in the heart of Louisville, Kentucky. Spanning 67 acres, it offers family-friendly entertainment with over 70 rides and attractions – including one of the region's largest selections of children’s rides (King Louie’s Playland), six world-class roller coasters, and two giant wave pools. Learn more at kentuckykingdom.com.  

About Herschend
Kentucky Kingdom is part of Herschend’s family of brands. Herschend is the world’s largest family-held themed attractions company, with a portfolio of over 40 family entertainment brands across North America, including destinations, resorts, theme parks, water parks, immersive experiences, and content enjoyed by audiences worldwide. For more information, visit www.Herschend.com.

About Passion for Pumpkins, INC. 
Passion for Pumpkins is a multimedia production company with 25 years of experience in redefining fall by transforming any landscape into an illuminated organic gallery. Jack O’ Lantern Spectacular is at the forefront of pumpkin art for the fall season. Passion for Pumpkins method of producing intricate jack-o-lantern carvings is a tradition that is unequaled anywhere in the world.