Light Up the Night: A Step-by-Step Guide to Pumpkin Parades

Pumpkin parades are a creative way to celebrate local creativity and give carved jack-o’-lanterns a second life. 

Usually held the next evening after Halloween, pumpkin parades encourage neighbours to light up local pathways and parks in a stunning display of community spirit. Free, family-friendly, and great for photos, these parades also encourage sustainability as volunteers arrange to compost submissions after the parade is over.

Pumpkin parades are also a made-in-Canada phenomenon! Back in 2004, the Friends of Sorauren Park kicked off the trend when they organized local residents to publicly display their creations in the park. From about 100 pumpkins in that first year to over 3,000 today—and with copycat parades now being held across the continent—the pumpkin parade is here to stay. 

Ready to turn your own park or neighborhood into a glowing showcase? Here’s a step-by-step guide to make your pumpkin parade a smashing success.

Find Your Own Path

Take a walk around the park with your community park group to choose the best route for your pumpkin parade. It can be hard to predict how many jack-o-lanterns will be part of your parade in the first year, so make sure you have the flexibility to make the path longer if necessary. Keep wheelchair and stroller accessibility in mind, and find opportunities to place pumpkins on different levels for optimum visibility.

Take Care of Paperwork

Most park events of this size require a permit. In Toronto, there’s even a special Pumpkin Parade permit which makes the compost process simple and affordable. Check with your municipality or parks department to see if you require a permit or special insurance. 

Spread the Word

For effective (and free!) promotions, use social media to post in neighbourhood groups and email community centers, elementary schools, local businesses, and your city councillor asking them to spread the word through their own newsletters, bulletin boards, and social accounts. Put up posters in high-traffic areas like libraries, coffee shops, and grocery stores, and distribute flyers at local events leading up to the parade. Engage local media outlets—like newspapers, radio stations, and blogs—to feature the event in their community calendars. Finally, invite community members to help with promotion by tagging friends or sharing photos of their pumpkins as they prepare for the big night. The more people feel connected to the event, the more excitement and turnout you’ll generate!

Schedule Your Volunteers

You’ll need a few helping hands to prepare a great parade. Schedule a few volunteers to arrive early to get the pathway started and help people place their pumpkins. Community members can drop off jack-o-lanterns earlier than you might expect, with the after-school period being the most convenient time for many. Our park group experts advise groups to be on-site by 3:30pm.

Volunteers can also distribute candles and help to light (and re-light) jack-o-lanterns throughout the night. Finally, you’ll want to have volunteers set up a table to collect sign-ups for your e-newsletter and ask people if they want to sign on to volunteer for next year’s Pumpkin Parade.

Leave No Trace

Will you clean up the park the night of the Parade or the next morning? Either way, you’ll need lots of volunteers with wheelbarrows or wagons to efficiently move the pumpkins from the ground to the compost bin, and to remove all of the candles from the jack-o-lanterns. The City of Toronto supports this effort by providing organic waste bins, and the pumpkins are turned into compost that can be used in parks and gardens throughout the city.

Make sure to let people know what to bring and what time to gather.  

Tips & Bonus Ideas

• Competitive Cleanup: Make clean-up fun by splitting your crew into teams and setting up a pumpkin toss competition. You can allot points for presentation, follow-through, and speed. The prize doesn’t have to be more than bragging rights.
• Music and Lights? While there’s something to be said for the simplicity of Pumpkin Parades, you can add drama to the event by introducing spooky music and lights. 
• Offer Hot Beverages and Snacks. There’s nothing like warm drinks to set the scene on a chilly night. Consider serving hot chocolate, coffee or cider to your volunteers and the public— just be sure to check public health regulations and permit requirements about serving food in the park.
• Engage the Arts Community. There are hidden artists in every community! Invite local visual artists to make special jack-o-lanterns that can be displayed at local businesses before the event as a promotional tool.