Pumpkin Nights returns to Austin, D-FW area in time for spooky season

October is just around the corner, but some would argue the Halloween season already has begun. Pumpkin Nights kicked off Thursday in the Austin and Dallas-Fort Worth locations.

Originally founded in 2016 at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, Pumpkin Nights now runs in many cities across the United States throughout October, according to the Pumpkin Nights website .

The event can be best described as a Halloween experience. Complete with fire dancers, live pumpkin art carved by professional artists, local food vendors, and more, it's an exciting evening for people of all ages.

According to the Pumpkin Nights website , guests can view a 40-foot-long dragon, an eerie pirate ship, and roam through an undersea wonderland — just one of the lands built using over 7,500 hand-carved real and synthetic pumpkins.

The six pumpkin-themed lands are Maravilla Lane, Enchanted, Pumpkin Passage, The Forbidden City, Pirate Cove, The Great Hall, Monster Mash and Neon Reef.

The walking path to view all the lands is approximately a half-mile long, according to the site, but visitors can walk through and explore the course as many times as they like.

Once the various lands have been explored, guests can check out The Pumpkin Village, where more festival activities will take place. Food, beverages, photo ops, and face painting will be offered, along with varying vendors based on the night and location. Visitors should check out the Pumpkin Nights website calendar to see which food, vendors and entertainment will be at their event.

Costumes are encouraged, so don't be afraid to show up and show out in your best fit.

Not keen on the frights but interested in experiencing the treats? Guests don't need to worry about jump scares or gore being present at the event; however, the site notes you may encounter spooky elements like fog machines, pumpkin spiders, and skeletons.

The event will continue to take place every evening until Oct. 31. Pumpkin Nights in Austin is located at 10621 Pioneer Farms Drive, while the Dallas event is located at 4016 W. Division St.