I’ve spent enough fall afternoons wandering the pumpkin patches at Eckert’s Belleville Farm to know the place doesn’t do things halfway. So when Jack’s Lighted Trail sold more than 35,000 tickets in its debut season last year, I wasn’t surprised. What did surprise me was that 65% of those ticket buyers had never been to an Eckert’s event before. This year the farm is chasing 40,000 guests with a longer run and four new theme nights built around exactly the crowd this attraction has been pulling in: families who want something more than a corn maze, and adults who’d rather sip cider than chaperone one.
The half-mile trail opens Friday, September 11, and runs on select nights through October 30 at Eckert’s Belleville Farm. Expect carved pumpkins, illuminated displays, and photo setups woven through the farm’s corn stalks. The trail can move 1,000 guests an hour, and it’s built to stay non-scary, so this isn’t the haunted-hayride version of a fall night out. Guests 21 and older can walk it with a hard or sweet cider from the on-site bar, and the farm suggests pairing your visit with afternoon apple or pumpkin picking (field access runs until 5 p.m.) before a tractor ride out to the trail itself.
What’s actually new this year
The four special-event nights are the real story here, and each one solves a different problem the debut season didn’t address. Low Sensory Night on September 19 runs a shorter window, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., for guests who need reduced stimulation, at $22 a ticket. Characters on the Trail on October 1 brings live performers dressed as Alice in Wonderland and Wizard of Oz characters, plus an event passport, also at $22. Jack’s After Dark on October 22 is the one built for people like me who’d rather do this without kids in tow: admission, one specialty cocktail, and a light-up necklace or glasses, running 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Costume Night on October 29 closes the season with a $32 family ticket, a Halloween treat bag for each kid, and a no-mask, no-weapon-props costume policy worth reading before you plan your outfit.
How the pricing stacks up regionally
Eckert’s flash sale runs today, August 31, through Thursday, September 3, with tickets priced $22 to $32 depending on the night. That’s in line with what else is running around St. Louis this fall: Faust Park’s Jack O’Lantern Trail charges around $20 per person, and Brookdale Farms’ general admission sits at $15 to $17. Where Eckert’s separates itself is gate pricing. Buy at the door instead of online and every ticket jumps to $35 flat, regardless of the date. Booking ahead here isn’t just the cheaper move, it’s the difference between a reasonable family outing and an expensive one.
Who this is actually for
If you’ve got young kids and want lights without scares, the general trail nights or Costume Night are the pick. If you’re bringing a group of adults and skipping the kid stuff entirely, Jack’s After Dark is built for exactly that. And if anyone in your group finds crowded, loud events overwhelming, Low Sensory Night is a genuinely useful option most fall attractions in this market still don’t offer.
I haven’t walked this specific trail yet, but I’ve watched Eckert’s build out Jack’s from a first-year experiment into something with real specificity behind it, and that’s usually a sign a St. Louis fall tradition is actually forming rather than just being marketed as one.
Closing FAQ
When does Jack’s Lighted Trail open for the 2026 season?
The trail opens Friday, September 11, and runs on select nights through October 30 at Eckert’s Belleville Farm in Belleville, Illinois.
How much are tickets to Jack’s Lighted Trail?
Advance tickets range from $22 to $32 depending on the night and event type. Buying at the gate instead of online costs $35 flat regardless of date, so booking ahead is the better financial move.
Is Jack’s Lighted Trail scary or appropriate for young kids?
The standard trail nights are designed as a non-scary, family-friendly experience. Guests wanting an even calmer visit can attend Low Sensory Night on September 19.
Can adults enjoy Jack’s Lighted Trail without kids?
Yes. Jack’s After Dark on October 22 is a 21-and-older night with admission, a specialty cocktail, and a light-up item included, running 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Photos credit: Eckert’s Farm
