The design staff started in January coming up with new ideas to take their haunted evenings in the park "to the next level."  Someone threw out the idea of some sort of computer controlled pumpkin.  Soon it turned into a forest of pumpkins and the events staff was given the task to make it happen.

Over 400 foam pumpkins were cast in various shapes. They were hollow and could be carved much like a real pumpkin.  The artists went to work and soon a wide array of faces were created.  Each pumpkin then had an 11 watt orange light inserted and they were ready to build the full display.

A section of the park was picked where the tree canopy covered the main walkway.  Pumpkins were carefully tied to the tree limbs and the electrical wires bundled to run down the trunk.  The pumpkins were also scattered on the grass, in planters and even on the outdoor rated speakers.

Pumpkins were grouped electrically and connected to Animated Lighting DMX based ELD-16 light controllers.  12 gauge outdoor rated wire was used to make all the pumpkin electrical connections so there was no chance of overloading an extension cord when used for other special events.

The DMX control cables routed to all light controllers on each side of the path were connected to wireless DMX receivers(www.wirelessDMX.com) and the antennas aimed at the master control booth several hundred yards away behind the facade of one of the buildings.  A light designer used High End System Hog 3PC software running on a standard laptop PC, connected to a DMX widget and then the wireless DMX transmitter.  A light show was quickly designed to randomly flicker the lights in the pumpkins and then synced to a scary sound track.  Every few minutes, the sound track would play a gush of wind and all the flickering pumpkin lights would appear to blow out putting the area in total darkness.  Lots of screams ensued.

Below are some static pictures of the setup.  There's a short movie available at the end.

	Pumpkins randomly scattered on the ground.  Look carefully at the junction box at the bottom of the picture where all the 11 watt light bulbs are connected and then run back to Animated Lighting DMX based ELD-16 light controllers.
	Just a few of the 400 pumpkins during the day, many hanging from the trees.
	Anything that could hold a pumpkin held up a pumpkin.  Notice all the 12 gauge extension cords in the picture.
	Night time shot.  Notice bundle of cable going up the tree trunk to power the pumpkins hanging from the branches.
	A view of many of the pumpkins at night.  Ellipsoidal lights with blue gels were also used to cast shadows on the ground.
	A couple of foam carved pumpkins.  You can see the 11 watt orange light inside each.
	A few more pumpkin characters
	People walking through the pumpkin forest.  Ghoulish characters also roamed the streets staring at the visitors and causing general havoc.

See the video! (Broadband connection suggested)