Lighting A Jack-O’-Lantern: Choosing the Best Illumination

A tea light or pillar candle is a tried-and-true way to light a jack-o’-lantern pumpkin this Halloween. Nothing beats the warm glow of a real candle, but unfortunately, they can be a real inconvenience. Time to let the real candles become history!

Candles tend to burn quickly or blow out in windy or rainy conditions. They require a careful placement to avoid fires, and you must remember to blow them out at the end of the evening.

Fortunately, more convenient and safer options have become available over the years.  Check out the tips below on choosing the best light for your Jack-o’-lantern this Halloween season.

You can light up Mr. Jack this Halloween in myriad ways, including glow sticks, Christmas lights, LED lights, battery-operated tea lights, or small LED flashlights. Check out our illumination guide.

Glow Sticks

Do you have a few party glow sticks people left over from a previous celebration? They are the perfect option for lighting up your pumpkin this Halloween. Just place it inside your pumpkin and check out the soft, spooky glow they emit. And they last for hours.

Glow sticks are ideal for lighting small pumpkins. For bigger pumpkins, buy a few high-intensity glow sticks. They won’t last as long, but they’ll be brighter.

Battery-operated jack-o’-lantern glow sticks with stands are also available.

Christmas Lights

A small string of Christmas lights is one of the easiest ways to light up your carved Halloween creation. Just stuff them inside, wrap the lights around a clear glass jar, and pop inside.

You’ll want to plan ahead by carving any pumpkins’ opening on the bottom or back to make it easy to hide the electrical cord. Instead of the usual white bulbs, try green, red or purple lights for a new look.

LED Light for Jack O’ Lantern

Do you have a battery-operated LED push light lying around the house? You can find this type of light lighting in stairways or closets. Install fresh batteries and place one of them inside your pumpkin, Mr. Jack, for an instant, super-bright light.

There are also battery-operated LED lights available specially designed for jack-o’-lanterns. They are available in fun versions, including:

• Yellow flicker light
• Color-changing light
• LED flashing strobe light

Small LED Flashlights

For bright light that lasts, place one small LED flashlight inside your jack-o-lantern. Or, add multiple flashlights for a more radiant look.

Battery Operated Tea Lights or Votives

Two or three battery-operated tea lights tucked inside your jack-o’-lantern will add a lovely glow. Flickering versions will add a more realistic dimension to your Halloween decor. Hint: Orange color tea lights will blend well with your pumpkin’s interior.

Illuminated Pumpkin Stand (Electric)

Another way to create spooky light for your jack-o’-lantern is an electric pumpkin stand which includes: an outdoor-rated sturdy base, a 15-watt candelabra bulb, socket assembly, and electrical cord. To set up an illuminated jack-o-lantern stand:

1. Cut a small hole in the bottom of your pumpkin.
2. Set the jack-o-lantern on top of the stand and plug in the power cord.

Any 15-watt or less bulb is ideal to light a pumpkin. LED, CFL, flicker, color, or a night light bulb works well. Plug the pumpkin stand into a light timer, and the light will go on and off automatically. No more having to remember to turn your pumpkin off at night!

Remote Control Pumpkin Lights

Go high-tech with battery-operated, remote control pumpkin lights. Specially designed for Halloween pumpkins, this LED light set will offer hours of foolproof illumination.

Plus, the kit comes with a remote control so that the settings can be changed from up to 20 feet away. Use the remote to turn the light on and off or adjust the brightness and flicker settings with a touch of a button.

With a wide variety of options to illuminate your Jack-o’-lantern, you’ll have an eerily welcoming glow emitting from your porch in no time!

How to Make Your Jack-O’-Lantern Last Longer

After carving, pumpkins begin to decay gradually due to dehydration, air, mold, and mildew. With these step-by-step instructions, make sure your Jack-o’-lantern is mold and mildew-free throughout the season.

To preserve your pumpkin, you’ll need to:

1. Remove any dirt from the pumpkin’s exterior with a damp cloth, then dry the pumpkin.
2. Spray it with Wet & Forget Ready-to-Use. Make sure you treat the full interior and crevices with the product.
3. Place your carved pumpkin in a cool, shaded area.
4. Retreat your carved jack-o-lantern weekly to keep it mold and mildew-free throughout this month!

(Photo courtesy of Nan Palmero)