Historic Hudson Valley has freshly posted on YouTube a two-minute Blaze clip using footage that was shot last year. Take a look at it and let me know what you think.

Perhaps the video will inspire you to come to Blaze and create your own. Need more inspiration? How about the chance to win a 42-inch HD flat-screen plasma television, an HD DVD player, and a collection of classic Halloween movies? Yea, I thought so. Read on.

The Blaze YouTube Video Contest is open to all and it's free to enter. You need to visit Blaze once (or twice, thrice, whatever) during the first two weekends, either Oct. 5-7 or 11-14. Bring your video capturing device (even a high-tech cellphone might suffice) and, well, capture some video. Massage it in your favorite video editing software and upload it to YouTube by Wednesday, Oct. 17, at 6 p.m. Full details can be found by clicking here. Make sure, for example, you've got the tags right and that you focus on the contest's mission: capture the excitement and creativity of Blaze.

Oh, and make sure you leave your tripod at home. Part of the fun is trying to capture good scenes without skewering other people's feet (or your own).

Examples of contest entries will be posted here as they propagate YouTube. So even if you don't win you'll get the chance to have your work viewed (and perhaps reviewed, perhaps even kindly) by legions of rabid Blaze Bloggers.

I've just learned that there was a glitch with tickets that were purchased from about 5 last night till about 11 this morning. (Those of you who were asking earlier if the site was down or tickets are sold out, apparently the site was down briefly this morning while the glitch was being fixed.)

Ticket buyers receive two e-mails: The first is a confirmation, while the second contains a link to the PDF of the tickets. But, for those of you who bought during this time frame (5 last night till this morning), the PDF is only one page, and hence only one ticket. The PDF should have one page PER TICKET. Thus, if you bought five tickets, the PDF should have five pages to print out.

For those who bought tickets during this time frame and got faulty PDFs, the Powers o' Blaze ticketing will be sending tickets via snail mail. I'm told they know exactly who was affected. So, don't worry. Here's what they said:

We apologize for a glitch in our system. You will receive paper tickets via regular mail, and your eticket(s) will be voided. The tickets will be mailed to the address you provided in your Guest Record.

Again, our apologies.

The glitch is now corrected and the system is up and functional.

Some folks have called or written inquiring about when the sun sets on Blaze evenings so they can plan accordingly. Great question!

If there's a knowledge gap, I aim to fill it. Thus, below are the relevant sunset times for Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y., according to the folks at the U.S. Naval Observatory. And remember, Daylight Savings Time continues throughout October this year, so the following are all shown in DST.

I should note, however, that Blaze works in any light, from the dim throes of final daylight, to dusk, to illuminated dark, to pitch black. Of course, the effect changes as the evening goes on (all the better for repeat, different time viewings).

When perusing the sunset times, keep in mind that Van Cortlandt Manor is wooded and kinda tucked into a valley. Darkness falls with some force.

For those who want to be darn sure it's as black as can be, be sure to book a 9 or 9:30 visit. No midnight sun, here.

Oct. 5 - 6:31
Oct. 6 - 6:30
Oct. 7 - 6:28
Oct. 11 - 6:21
Oct. 12 - 6:20
Oct. 13 - 6:18
Oct. 14 - 6:17
Oct. 18 - 6:11
Oct. 19 - 6:09
Oct. 20 - 6:08
Oct. 21 - 6:06
Oct. 24 - 6:02
Oct. 25 - 6:01
Oct. 26 - 5:59
Oct. 27 - 5:58
Oct. 28 - 5:56
Oct. 29 - 5:55
Oct. 30 - 5:54
Oct. 31 - 5:53

My my, you Blaze Blog readers have been very active with comments of late. Must be getting close to October!

Several have asked about the artists involved in the event, Michael Natiello (Blaze creative director) in particular, and whether the artists will be exhibiting work at the event.

Well, the event itself is a large-scale work in and of itself, so I think that counts.

For those of you who might be curious about the non-pumpkin mediums Michael works in, I've got two cool examples to share, both of a theme, it seems. At left is "Wheel of Fortune" and on the right is "Untitled."

Let Michael know what you think. Post your comments here. I'm pretty sure he reads this.

Yes, the design will seem a little familiar to you loyal Blaze Blog readers, but, I think that's the point.

What you are seeing here is the back of the 2007 official Blaze T-shirt. I absolutely adore the design. I love the idea of walking around with this shirt on knowing that my second pair of eyes is offering a wry grin for those who may be following me.

Not that I'm paranoid or anything, but you get the idea...

This sneak preview of the back has got me jonesing to see the front. But alas, my highly-placed Blaze retail source has not come through yet on a spy image. Soon, I hope.

The Blaze T-shirts, along with dozens of other Blaze-specific treats, will be available at The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze Shop, open all 19 nights of the event.

And of course, don't forget, for the first time this year, art-pumpkins hand-carved on site by Blaze artists are available to take home. Gotta love it...