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RBG Centre Access Sept 11-21: Access to RBG Centre beyond the Gift Shop (including the Breezeway and Mediterranean Garden) limited. Sept 11: closed to all visitors, Sept 12-21: open for Fleurs de Villes ticketholders only. Hendrie Park remains accessible to all visitors.

RBG After Dark: Pumpkin Trail (19+)

Special Event

Date & Time:

October 23, 2025, 6:00 pm - 11:00 pm

Location:

Hendrie Park (680 Plains Rd W)

Types:

Evenings, Get Social, Special Event

Admission:

Ticketed Event

Event Description

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!

This is a 19+ event. Check out the Great Pumpkin Trail for a family-friendly version.

Generously Supported By:

TD logo

Please Note: Only a ¼ km section of the trail, a loop within the garden, is fully wheelchair accessible, starting and ending at the same point. The rest of the trail features uneven ground, rough terrain, and hilly areas. The trail is dark in places, lit only by jack-o-lanterns. For your safety we recommend bringing a flashlight and wearing sturdy footwear.

  • jack o lanterns on a nature trail, lit up for the evening
  • Group under an pumpkin-decorated arch for the Great Pumpkin Trail
  • Rose garden in hendrie park lit up for the Great Pumpkin Trail
  • woman dressed in a butterfly halloween costume for the RBG after Dark: pumpkin trail
  • Jack-o-lanturn carved with a raccoon face sits on a lit trail

Photos 2 & 4: Efosa Media

Event Tickets

Pre-registration is required for this ticketed event.

Ticket Type Price
Adult $27 (+ HST & $1 Service Fee)
Student* (19+) $25 (+ HST & $1 Service Fee)
  • Members will receive a presale
  • Tickets are non-refundable and final sale. General admission discounts and coupons are not applicable to this ticketed event.
  • After a purchase is complete, the tickets are the property of the ticket-holder, and RBG will be unable to accommodate any date or time changes.
  • Everyone attending the event must have a ticket. You will not be admitted into the event without a ticket. Tickets will be scanned upon arrival.
  • ID will be checked at the door.

Ticketing Terms & Conditions

Tickets purchased to special events are final sale and non-refundable. Tickets for this experience can be transferred to someone else if you can no longer attend the event. Please keep your tickets and confirmation: it is proof of your purchase and allows entry into the experience.

Liability: RBG assumes no responsibility for loss or damage to property, or for personal injury or mishap; all activities are at the risk of the participant.

Filming/Photography Release: Please be advised that all photos, audio-video, and static images taken at this experience may be used for exhibit, reproduction, and/or distribution for RBG related promotional use, including all forms of print, television advertisement, social media and /or website display. In consideration of your participation as a guest or attendee of this experience, you authorize Royal Botanical Gardens, its legal representatives, suppliers, invited media and assigns unrestricted right and permission to copyright and use such photos and images under their sole discretion. Royal Botanical Gardens, its legal representatives, suppliers, invited media and assigns are released without limitation of any claims for libel or invasion of privacy.

By purchasing tickets and participating in this event on RBG properties, you are agreeing to the above release for yourself, and on behalf of your guests.

Member Pre-Sale Instructions

To access the member presale, simply log in to your RBG online account using the email address associated with your membership. Once your account is set up, visit the registration page.

Do NOT make a new account; any new account created will not have access to your member benefits, and will not permit you access to the pre-sale.

New Members: How To Activate Your Account

  1. Visit secure.rbg.ca/account/login
  2. Enter your email address and “submit” (NOTE: RBG members must use the email associated with their current membership)
  3. Check your email for a link to reset your password
  4. Log in with your new credentials and check your account information. Ensure your updated membership is showing.

Once your member account is set up, visit the registration page and your tickets will be available!

If you do not receive a password reset email within 10 minutes, or if you log into and your membership is not showing in your account information, it is possible that email address is not the primary contact on your RBG Membership. Get in touch with the memberships team for more information.

Part of the RBG After Dark Series

Celebrate with us all summer long with 19+ events in a one-of-a-kind garden setting.

Event F.A.Q.s

Have a question about RBG After Dark? Click the topics below for more information. If you have a question that is not answered, send us a message, or give us a call at 905-527-1158.

Tickets

Pre-purchased tickets are required for this special event. Tickets are final sale.   

Your tickets will be emailed to you as a pdf attachment shortly after online payment. You will be required to present these tickets upon arrival, either printed out or digitally on your personal device.  

RBG Membership cardholders have access to a presale starting September 3, at 11am. A membership discount will NOT apply for this event.

Arrival & Entry Time

Doors will open at 6:00pm and last entry will be at 10 p.m. This event concludes at 11 p.m. 

What's Included

Event tickets provide access to Hendrie Park and the Great Pumpkin Trail. Any operating discovery activities and live entertainment are also included in your event tickets.

Weather

This event is 100% outdoors so come prepared for the weather! RBG reserves the right to cancel the event due to inclement weather. 

Age & I.D.

Attendees must be 19 years of age or older to attend. Please ensure you have a government-issued ID on your person during the event; anyone who does not present a valid ID upon request will be asked to leave.

Food & Beverage

Don’t have time to make dinner before the event? We’ll be serving up some delicious seasonal favourites available for purchase! 

Outside food and drink is not be permitted.   

Directions & Parking

This event is held in Hendrie Park – please enter through RBG Centre at 680 Plains Road W. Burlington Ontario. Parking is included, available in the large lot at RBG Centre. Should the lot at RBG Centre become full, alternate parking locations are:

  1. “Cherry Hill” trailhead parking lot. From this area, cross over Plains Road West and make your way to RBG Centre main entrance to check in. Please note, you will not be able to enter the event through the Rose Garden Service gate.
  2. Street parking along Botanical Dr. and Spring Gardens. Rd. From this area, cross the parking lot and make your way to RBG Centre main entrance to check in.
  3. Staff Parking Lot / Classroom 5 – south side of Plains Rd. W. at Botanical Dr., Burlington. From this lot, make your way to RBG Centre main entrance to check in.

This garden is located along bus routes for Burlington Transit, with stops a short distance from the entrance. See rbg.ca/directions for more details.

Please do not drink and drive; organize a safe ride home.

Trail Details & Reccomendations

Prepare for a magical adventure on The Great Pumpkin Trail! Here’s everything you need to know for a safe and enjoyable journey:

  • Approximately 1 km in length, the trail begins in Hendrie Park, winds down into the Hendrie Valley along the South Bridle and Kicking Horse trails, and returns to Hendrie Park at a different location from where it started.
  • Only a ¼ km section of the trail, a loop within the garden, is fully wheelchair accessible, starting and ending at the same point.
  • The rest of the trail features uneven ground, rough terrain, and hilly areas.
  • The trail is dark in places, lit only by jack-o-lanterns. For your safety we recommend bringing a flashlight and wearing sturdy footwear.

Is this a horror event?

With the focus on seasonal fun, the Great Pumpkin Trail is a scare-free event! Please plan any costumes and act accordingly. Guests can expect to see traditional Halloween props and décor along the way, as well as roaming costumed characters adding to the festive atmosphere.

Costumes

Visitors are encouraged to wear costumes however costumes must be appropriate and non offensive.

Accessibility

Only a ¼ km loop of the Pumpkin Trail is fully wheelchair accessible. The remainder is along the RBG trail system which includes rough terrain. If you have any questions about accessibility at this event, please contact us at 905-527-1158. 

Pets & Service Animals

With the exception of service animals, personal dogs/cats/animals are not permitted at this event. 

Pets are welcome in RBG’s outdoor spaces during normal daytime operating hours so long as they remain leashed, and cleaned up after. 

Event Terms & Conditions

Tickets purchased to special events are final sale and non-refundable. Tickets for this event can be transferred to someone else if you can no longer attend. If RBG cancels a special event, ticketholders will be fully refunded. Please keep your tickets and confirmation: it is proof of your purchase and allows entry for the tour.

Liability: RBG assumes no responsibility for loss or damage to property, or for personal injury or mishap; all activities are at the risk of the participant.

Filming/Photography Release: Please be advised that all photos, audio-video, and static images taken at this tour may be used for exhibit, reproduction, and/or distribution for RBG related promotional use, including all forms of print, television advertisement, social media and /or website display. In consideration of your participation as a guest or attendee of this event, you authorize Royal Botanical Gardens, its legal representatives, suppliers, invited media and assigns unrestricted right and permission to copyright and use such photos and images under their sole discretion. Royal Botanical Gardens, its legal representatives, suppliers, invited media and assigns are released without limitation of any claims for libel or invasion of privacy.

By purchasing tickets and participating in this event on RBG properties, you are agreeing to the above release for yourself, and on behalf of your guests.

More Upcoming Special Events

RBG hosts unique events all year long! See rbg.ca/specialevents for details