Staff Reports | Happenings & Events
As the Arizona State Fair makes its return to the Valley, Arizona Science Center is announcing a new installation to the fair this year, Pumpkinferno.
The Arizona Science Center is presenting the luminary pumpkin-themed, walk-through activation that will feature thousands of hand-carved, artificial pumpkins arranged in captivating displays, Arizona Science Center officials tell the Digital Free Press.
“We are very eager to bring this brand-new, immersive experience to the Arizona State Fair,” said Guy Labine, The Hazel A. Hare president & CEO of Arizona Science Center. “This installation is something we have been thinking about bringing to the community for several years and we are excited to finally have the opportunity to do so.”
Throughout the fall season, guests will be transported into an immersive and enchanting exhibition filled with different themed zones, themed lighting, hauntingly beautiful sounds and scientific discoveries.
Guests will choose a character storyline and can move through the zone following their characters and learning about each individual’s scientific tie.
The seven zones include:
- Monster Mugshots – Catch a glimpse of the creepiest Halloween creatures including Dracula, Medusa, Werewolf Frankenstein’s Monster and more. Jack of the Lantern will guide you through mugshots made all out of pumpkins while Guests learn all about light science, circuits and the origin of carved pumpkins.
- Witches Brew – No witch is complete without a cauldron. Follow The Witch through this spirited zone for some bubbling, toiling trouble and magical lessons in early herbalism and medicine.
- Night at the Gallery – Discover a mesmerizing display of larger-than-life recreated paintings by some of the most famous artists in history. Plus, follow The ScareCrow through the zone and uncover the science behind biology and harvesting.
- Cycle Through Time – Take a spin through time and see how bicycles have evolved over the decades. Plus, witness fascinating displays of carved pumpkins that showcase what bikes looked like throughout time.
- Day of the Dead – Celebrate the Mexican holiday of remembrance, Dia de los Muertos, as you bask in the beauty of intricately carved decorated skulls, all created out of pumpkins.
- Dragon’s Lantern Lair – Enter if you dare. Inside this mystical lair, Guests may run into mother dragon and her young hatching as they return home.
- Expression Progression – Ever heard of a rollercoaster of emotions? Throughout this zone, visitors can catch emotional pumpkins moving through a series of changing expressions.
“We are so excited to team up with Arizona Science Center to bring this captivating experience to visitors of the Arizona State Fair this fall,” said Wanell Costello, executive director of the Arizona Exposition & State Fair. “There are so many visitors of the fair who come on an annual basis, and we are excited to have the opportunity to bring guests a new, jaw-dropping experience.”
In addition to the seven zones, patrons will engage with Science Center team members offering dazzling demonstrations tied to a fall-themed activation. Guests waiting to enter the exhibition can participate in Boo Bubbles, an engaging experiment that uses dry ice to create enthralling visual effects.
Pumkinferno was created and produced by the St. Lawrence Parks Commission.
