The Cauldron Brings a Pumpkin Patch, Halloween Fun to Flatiron

You don’t have to get out of the city to experience the magic of a pumpkin patch this Halloween season. The Cauldron NYC—in conjunction with Little Kid Big City—has conjured an urban pumpkin patch in its brand-new Flatiron location, where you can dress in wizard’s robes and create some spooky—or silly—jack-o’-lanterns. My son and I recently checked out this pumpkin carving adventure and had a great time. Read on to find out more about this interactive experience and what you need to know before visiting with kids.

For more Halloween events and activities, check out our jam-packed New York City Kids’ Halloween Guide, which showcases our top picks for FREE Halloween events, not-too-scary-haunted houses, and more.

Choose the perfect pumpkin before you settle in to carve at The Cauldron.

Upon entering The Cauldron, we were very impressed with the elaborate Halloween decorations and felt like we entered a subterranean world of magic and mystery. We were instructed to pick a large pre-scooped (hooray!) pumpkin for carving and another smaller one for decorating before being led to the back room where we donned wizards’ robes and witches’ hats. Our carving table was well-equipped with everything we needed to decorate and carve our pumpkins, including carving tools, stencils, markers, pens, and a tea light.

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Sip on a serving of HallowCream Cider while you craft your jack-o’-lantern at The Cauldron. Photo courtesy of the event

While my son got to work on his pumpkin and I started carving, we were served mugs of delicious, warm HallowCream Cider—a spiced apple cider topped with homemade caramel whipped cream. The drink was sweet, frothy, and perfect for the activity.

A little later, our server surprised my son with a pint-sized cauldron of Shirley Spellman, a Halloween twist on the classic Shirley Temple. Right before drinking it, the server dropped in a nugget of dry ice, which made the drink bubble and smoke.

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Halloween spirit is everywhere you look at The Cauldron.

After finishing up with our pumpkins, the attendant gave my son a magic wand that allowed him to interact with the decor. With the wands, guests can illuminate wall lanterns, conjure smoking cauldrons, and awaken Halloween displays. My son used his wand (and a magical spell of his choosing), to dispense some beverages from the mouths of the unicorn and dragon, affectionately named Hocus and Pocus.

You can take your completed pumpkins home or add them to the pumpkin display. Visiting The Cauldron’s Wizard Pumpkin Patch and Pumpkin Carving Workshop was a great activity to get us into the Halloween spirit. My son enjoyed decorating his pumpkins, the interactive magic activities, and especially, the custom Halloween drinks.

Know Before You Go to The Cauldron

• The Wizard Pumpkin Patch and Pumpkin Carving Workshop runs through the month of October on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
• The activity lasts 45 minutes and costs $39.99 per person; $24.99 for kids 5 and under. It’s highly recommended to purchase tickets online in advance.
• You’re free to take the witch’s hat home as a souvenir but don’t forget to leave your robe at The Cauldron. The magic wand is available for purchase at an additional cost.
• The Cauldron NYC Flatiron is located at 127 West 26th Street.
• For more Halloween festivities, The Cauldron’s downtown location is running a Halloween Edition Potions Experience with four brand-new themed interactive potions, family-friendly Wizard Afternoon Tea, and weekly events throughout the month.

Unless noted, photos by the author