PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Have you ever wondered how Roger Williams Park Zoo's Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular first came to be?

The beloved Rhode Island tradition, which first launched in fall 2001, is the brainchild of Passion for Pumpkins founder John Reckner.

The 79-year-old told 12 News he used to be a mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service and would carve pumpkins in his spare time during the show's early days.

Reckner's literal passion for pumpkins eventually became a full-time gig as the shows started getting bigger and brighter.

Now, Reckner and his team of 18 carvers spend countless hours crafting jack-o-lanterns for the highly-anticipated walk-through display.

Reckner said his carving team consists primarily of illustrators and tattoo artists, who take time out of their busy s

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