Did you spot the Mystery Jack O'Lantern surrounded by an entourage of 4-H pumpkins at the Rutland Halloween Parade? We're proud to announce that this year's Mystery Jack O'Lantern is none other than MOONSHINE SHOREY! 🎃🎈 Or, as so many of us know and love him, MOONIE! There are SO many reasons our community chose Moonshine as our 2026 Mystery Jack O'Lantern. Where do we even begin?! Moonshine has a heart for community and a gift for making people feel like they belong. From his years with 4-H, helping young people build confidence and discover their talents, to helping found the Pride Center and creating spaces where people can show up as their whole, wonderful selves, Moonshine has made our corner of Vermont brighter and more welcoming. And then there are the BALLOONS! 🎈 Moonshine's creativity and imagination have taken him around the world! From his world-famous Balloon Chain art to extraordinary adventures, he reminds us that life doesn't have to be ordinary. We can dream BIG, follow the wonderfully weird paths that call to us, and bring joy to others in magical, unexpected ways. He's taken that spirit from Rutland to the world and brought it right back home. He's a storyteller, community builder, adventurer, artist, and champion for young people who knows that kindness, imagination, and the courage to be yourself can make an enormous difference. But what we love most about Moonshine isn't where he's traveled or what he's accomplished. It's the way he makes people feel. Seen. Welcomed. Encouraged. Celebrated. 🧡 And THAT is exactly what the Mystery Jack O'Lantern is all about! Celebrating the wonderfully unique people who make our community special. Moonshine, thank you for being EVERYTHING THAT IS YOU. For sharing your imagination, kindness, generosity, and enormous heart with our community. We're so lucky that this big, beautiful world of yours includes Rutland, Vermont! Now, everybody give MOONSHINE some love! 🎃🎈✨ #MysteryJackOLantern #MoonshineShorey #ComeAliveOutside #RutlandVT #RutlandHalloweenParade