Historic Hudson Valley Gets State Grant to Promote Great Blaze in Croton-on-Hudson

CROTON-ON-HUDSON, NY — Historic Hudson Valley has received a $159,937 grant to promote the Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze at Van Cortlandt Manor.

The money is part of a new $700 million round of funding awarded through New York's Regional Economic Development Council initiative, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced last week.

Grant funds will be used to promote The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze, a 32 night event in October and November 2017, which is the largest ticketed Halloween event in the tri-state area. A walk-through land art installation at Van Cortlandt Manor, one of Historic Hudson Valley’s five National Historic Landmark sites, will showcase the best of the Hudson River Valley: artistry, history, and culture, according to the REDC.

“Through the Regional Economic Development Councils, we have replaced the ‘one-size fits all’ approach to economic growth with a ‘ground-up’ strategy that focuses on cooperation and investing in regional assets to generate opportunity,” Cuomo said in his announcement. “By bringing together ideas from local government and community leaders with state resources, we are giving these councils the tools to create jobs and drive economic activity in their communities for generations to come. I congratulate the Regional Councils on their awards, and look forward to continuing to work together to build a stronger New York for all.”

Visitors to the Great Blaze pack southern Croton-on-Hudson and Route 9 every October.

Photo via Historic Hudson Valley