The Jack O’Lantern Extravaganza returns to the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium in Highland Park nightly from October 2 through November 1, 2026. Thousands of hand-carved pumpkins light up the paths after dark. The event runs 6:30 to 11 PM with last entry at 10 PM; from October 10 onward, gates open at 6 PM. Tickets are $24–26 for adults and $18–20 for kids 2–13, with under-2s free and group and flex options available. Buy ahead at pittsburghzoo.org.
Pick your weekend. The event spans five weekends, and they are not the same trip. October 2–4 overlaps Prostburgh! Oktoberfest and the Penguins home opener. October 9–11 is the busiest weekend of the month: Pitt Family Weekend, Pitt vs. North Carolina and Steelers vs. Colts. The closing weekend is Halloween itself, with Pitt hosting Georgia Tech on Saturday, October 31 and the Steelers hosting the Browns on Sunday, November 1. For a quieter, easier-to-book family trip, aim for the middle of the month.
Why a home beats a hotel for a family night out
This is an evening event, and little kids crash hard after it. A house means bedtime in a real bedroom instead of everyone in one hotel room, a kitchen for dinner before you go and breakfast the next morning, and a washer for the jacket that met a pumpkin-spice spill. If grandparents or cousins are coming along, one home keeps everybody under the same roof. Our Bloomfield Flats sit a short drive from Highland Park, close enough to head back and put the kids straight to bed.
Make a weekend of it
Spend the daylight hours on the rest of fall in Pittsburgh: the Zoo itself by day, a walk through Highland Park, apple cider in the Strip District, or the view from Mt. Washington. Our Things to Do in Pittsburgh guide and Pittsburgh food guide have the rest.
Where to stay. Rivers & Steel City Homes offers full homes across the Pittsburgh metropolitan area — parking, a kitchen, and room for everyone who came in. 2,700+ guests since 2018; book direct and save 5–15% over Airbnb and VRBO. Find your dates at riversandsteel.com/search.
More to plan your trip: Things to Do in Pittsburgh · Special events on the Pittsburgh events calendar. Ready to visit? Find your stay »
