Pumpkin Parades light up Toronto parks tonight — a tradition that started at Sorauren Park in 2004

By The Canadian Chronicle · Sunday, November 1, 2026

Community · The Canadian Chronicle

Published Sunday, November 1, 2026 · 1 min read

Toronto's carved pumpkins get one more night. Pumpkin Parades run in more than 45 parks across the city tonight, Sunday, November 1, starting at dusk, around 6 p.m.

Residents bring their jack-o'-lanterns to a participating park, set them along the paths, and light them again. There is no competition and no registration. The parades are organized by community groups and Business Improvement Areas, in partnership with the City of Toronto.

Where it started

The tradition began at Sorauren Avenue Park in 2004, organized by the Friends of Sorauren Park, with about 100 pumpkins at the first parade.

Sorauren's parade, at 289 Sorauren Avenue, runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. tonight. Pumpkins are placed along the inside edge of the path around the park between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. Recent years have drawn 1,500 or more pumpkins to Sorauren alone.

The West End Community Choir sings at 7 p.m. and again at 7:45 p.m. on the Sorauren Town Square.

Across the city

Other parades tonight include Trinity Bellwoods, Riverdale Park East and Riverdale Park West, Withrow Park and Wychwood Barns Park. The City of Toronto publishes the full list and a map of participating parks.

After the parades end, the City collects the pumpkins and turns them into compost for local green spaces.