Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) is your must-visit destination this October! Enjoy daytime visits featuring spectacular fall displays of more than 15,000 real pumpkins, gourds, and squash. Plus, some of RBG’s most popular evening events are set to return! Don’t miss The Great Pumpkin Trail (all ages) and RBG After Dark: Pumpkin Trail (19+). Whether you’re looking for a day in the crisp fall air or an evening adventure along a moonlit trail, there’s endless fun to be had!
“A fall visit to RBG is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to enjoy Ontario’s natural beauty and seasonal splendour in new and engaging ways,” said Zee Hamid, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming. “Royal Botanical Gardens celebrates the spooky season with family-friendly programming for all ages, bringing together nature, culture and community. It’s a great reason to visit RBG for the first, or hundred-and-first, time.”
Fall Displays in Hendrie Park
October 10 – November 2, 2026
Experience Hendrie Park in fall splendor! Starting Thanksgiving Weekend (Saturday, October 10, 2026), take a daytime stroll through vibrant horticultural arrangements featuring more than 15,000 pumpkins, squash, and gourds in stunning mosaics and vignettes, perfect for seasonal photo ops and autumn inspiration.
Please note, daytime visitation is during regular hours of operation. Garden Admission is separate from access gained through ticketed special events such as Pumpkin Trail.
Plan your daytime visit:
- Learn more about fall displays at rbg.ca/falldisplays
- For hours of operation visit rbg.ca/hours
- Purchase admission online at rbg.ca/tickets
Wondering what happens to the pumpkins, squash, and gourds once the season ends? To help reduce waste and support the community, edible items from the displays will be donated to local food banks, and some will be provided to local farmers for animal feed.
Ticketed Evening Events:
The Great Pumpkin Trail is a wooded hiking trail illuminated by hundreds of real, candlelit jack-o’-lanterns. A 1/4 km accessible loop through the garden is also available.
The Great Pumpkin Trail
October 15 – 18 and 23 – 25, 2026
The Great Pumpkin Trail returns to RBG! Follow the candlelit glow of hundreds of jack-o-lanterns deep within the recesses of the Hendrie Valley. Savour the flavours of the season with a selection of sweet and savoury delights while enjoying live entertainment and pumpkin-themed activities. Plus, enjoy thousands of real pumpkins arranged in artistic displays and installations throughout Hendrie Park!
Pre-purchased tickets are required. Secure your preferred timeslot early by visiting rbg.ca/pumpkintrail.
RBG After Dark: Pumpkin Trail (19+)
October 22, 2026
RBG’s Hendrie Park transforms under the cover of darkness for an exclusive adult-only Halloween celebration which is sure to send a chill up your spine! Come dressed in your Halloween best and follow the candlelit glow of hundreds of jack-o-lanterns deep within the recesses of the Hendrie Valley. Enjoy an evening of music, entertainment, and pumpkin-themed activities. Satisfy your appetite with bountiful bites and sips as you explore the autumn nightscape of Royal “Boo”tanical Gardens!
Pre-purchased tickets are required. This highly popular, adults-only event often sells out quickly! Don’t miss out – tickets are available now at rbg.ca/afterdark.
RBG members enjoy exclusive pre-sale access to many of RBG’s special events, programs, and day camps. Learn more about membership benefits at
Stay up to date on the latest happenings at RBG: follow @rbgcanada on Instagram, Royal Botanical Gardens on Facebook, and join the eRBG Newsletter at rbg.ca/erbg-newsletter.