Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Executive Director of Parks, Buildings, and Recreation Management (PBRM) Thomas Ashe and the Parks & Recreation team were thrilled to welcome hundreds of attendees to the inaugural “Pumpkin Stroll After Dark” event in Forest Park on Wednesday evening.
Forest Park’s historic Aquatic Gardens were enchanted by community creativity and seasonal wonder, transformed into glowing garden of imagination where pumpkins, whimsy, and gentle Halloween spirit came to life. Guests were invited to stroll along winding paths that trace the over a century-old lily ponds — a serene landscape seemingly untouched by time — as they enjoyed an enchanting fall atmosphere filled with imagination and friendly Halloween spirit. Complimentary cider and freshly baked doughnuts from Echo Hill Orchard awaited those who lingered beneath the harvest moon.
Families, friends, and costumed-kiddos came out to experience the opening night of the first-ever “Pumpkin Stroll After Dark” in Forest Park. The event was hosted by the Parks Department, who collaborated with our Schools and Elder Affairs teams to get over 200 pumpkins carved for this special event.
Last week, students from Central High School ‘helped bring the Pumpkin Stroll to life’ using their artistic skills to carve pumpkins that will be illuminated and displayed. Our seniors at the Raymond Jordan Senior Center with the Department of Elder Affairs also offered their pumpkin carving creativity with the help of American International College (AIC) nursing students.
The fun continues Friday evening with the Pumpkin Stroll event set to take place again from 5:00-8:00 p.m.
Mayor Sarno states, “First of all, I would like to direct a BIG thank you to our Springfield Parks, Buildings, and Recreation Management Executive Director Tom Ashe and Team for their efforts on various projects and collaborations throughout the city. It really was a magical evening and our beautiful Forest Park is such an idyllic setting for this Autumn celebration. A very special thank you to our talented art students from Central High School and to our Elder Affairs team and our seniors too for contributing their time and talents toward this collaboration. God Bless you all and thank you! It was wonderful to see the Park come alive with Halloween/Fall/Harvest magic at the Park’s Pumpkin Stroll After Dark!”
Visit the Parks Department webpage: https://www.springfield-ma.gov/park/park-events
