Toronto – Oh, my gourd! The City of Toronto’s Pumpkin Parades will return to more than 45 City parks across Toronto on Wednesday, November 1. Residents of all ages can say a final farewell to Halloween while experiencing a spine-tingling spectacle of creative and bewitching carved pumpkins outdoors. This fun neighbourhood Halloween tradition began at Sorauren Park in 2004 and has grown to include areas all over the city. The made-in-Toronto tradition allows community members to come together in City parks and illuminate the night with their spooky, spell-binding jack-o-lanterns.
Pumpkin Parades are organized by community groups and Business Improvement Areas. The City offers bins to help with post-event cleanup. After the parades, the City picks up the bins and processes the pumpkins as yard waste, which is then turned into compost, some of which is used in City parks and gardens. Parade locations are listed on the City’s Pumpkin Parades webpage. Parade attendees are encouraged to post their favourite creations online using the hashtag #PumpkinParadesTO. Halloween safety tips also apply to Pumpkin Parades. The public should consider:
- Carrying a flashlight or attaching a strip of reflective tape to clothing
- Being prepared for wet weather (as parades will take place rain or shine) by using caution on wet pathways and sidewalks and avoiding rivers and streams in parks