Post-Halloween Pumpkin Parades set for tonight at number of East Toronto parks
By AUNALYA TURNER
The annual Pumpkin Parades will be coming to more than a dozen parks in East Toronto to mark the day after Halloween.
All of the Pumpkin Parades will take place on Friday, Nov. 1, beginning at 6 p.m. rain or shine.
Residents are welcome to attend the parade at their local park by bringing their carved pumpkins for one more chance to be displayed at night and enjoyed by others before composting.
Locally, Pumpkin Parades will be taking place at De Grassi Street Parkette, 125 DeGrassi St.; Leslie Grove Park, 1158 Queen St. E; Withrow Park, 725 Logan Ave.; Phin Avenue Parkette, 115 Condor Ave.; Felstead Avenue Playground, 60 Felstead Ave.; Moncur Playground, 38 Robbins Ave.; East Lynn Park, 1949 Danforth Ave.; Cassels Avenue Playground, 69 Cassels Ave.; Norwood Park, 16 Norwood Rd.; Ed McCleverty Playground, 2230 Gerrard St. East; Dentonia Park, 80 Thyra Ave.; Oakridge Park, 3459 Danforth Ave.; and Sandown Park, 50 Natal Ave.
The Pumpkin Parade tradition started in 2004 at Sorauren Park in Parkdale, where community members gathered at night to showcase their carving skills and admire each other’s jack-o’-lanterns before disposing of them.
The parades offer residents a final celebration of Halloween while promoting eco-friendly practices by repurposing their used pumpkins.
After the event, all the collected pumpkins are processed as yard waste by the City of Toronto and transformed into compost.
Participants at the Pumpkin Parades are encouraged to carry a flashlight or wear reflective tape or clothing. It’s also important to be ready for wet weather and potentially slippery terrain.
