RBG After Dark: Pumpkin Trail (19+)

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 2, at 11am. A membership discount will NOT apply for this event.

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

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.

The Great Pumpkin Trail is rain or moonshine and is 100% outdoors so come prepared for the weather! RBG reserves the right to postpone, reschedule, or cancel the event due to inclement weather, unforeseen circumstances, or other conditions that may impact the safety of guests, staff, or performers. Ticket holders will be notified of any changes via email, which may occur without prior notice. RBG is not responsible for any additional costs incurred by ticket holders.

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.

Don’t have time to make dinner before the event? We’ll be serving up some delicious seasonal favourites available for purchase, alongside a selection of local food vendors.

Outside food and drink is not be permitted.

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.

A school bus shuttle will run every 10 minutes from the Rock Garden parking lot (1185 York Blvd.) to RBG Centre between 6 PM and 11:15 PM. The RBG Centre and Cherry Hill lots fill up quickly, so why not enjoy the ease of parking at Rock Garden and take advantage of the complimentary shuttle ride?

Should the lot at RBG Centre become full, alternate parking locations are:

1. Rock Garden with Complimentary Shuttle: 1185 York Blvd. Hamilton
2. “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.
3. 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.
4. 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.

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.

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.

How many pumpkins will be featured at RBG?
RBG will feature approximately 15,000 pumpkins, squash and gourds, creating a spectacular fall display.

Where do the pumpkins, squash and gourds come from?
Our pumpkins, squash and gourds are sourced from multiple farms in Norfolk and Elgin Counties, supporting local growers and bringing a wide variety of fall favourites to the garden.

What types of pumpkins and squash will be featured?
There will be a colourful mix of traditional pumpkins, specialty varieties, gourds and squash, including:

• Orange Jacks
• White Jacks
• Warty Goblin
• Red Warty Thing
• Porcelain Doll
• One Too Many
• Flat White Boer
• Fairytale
• Cinderella
• Blue Doll
• Acorn Squash
• Butternut Squash
• Spaghetti Squash

What happens to the pumpkins at the end of the fall season?
The pumpkins, squash and gourds will be given a second life after the event. We will donate them to local food banks, including Burlington Food Bank, Compassion Society and Food For Life, while some will go to local farmers to be used as animal feed. This helps reduce waste and supports our community.

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

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. 

With the exception of service animals, pets are not permitted at this event.

Leashed dogs are permitted on RBG’s nature trails during daytime hours only. For the protection of our natural areas and wildlife keep dogs leashed.

• Tickets purchased to RBG events are final sale and non-refundable. Full price tickets may be transferred to another person without restriction should you be unable to attend. Please keep your tickets and confirmation: it is proof of your purchase and allows entry into the experience.
• Cancellation: RBG reserves the right to cancel the event due to extreme inclement weather with little to no notice (ticket purchasers will be contacted by email).
• 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.
• Weather Policy: This event is held outdoors in a non-covered area and is subject to weather conditions. RBG reserves the right to postpone, reschedule, or cancel the event due to inclement weather, unforeseen circumstances, or other conditions that may impact the safety of guests, staff, or performers. Ticket holders will be notified of any changes via email, which may occur without prior notice. RBG is not responsible for any additional costs incurred by ticket holders.
• By purchasing tickets and participating in this experience on RBG properties, you are agreeing to the above release for yourself, and on behalf of your guests.