Borden Park is glowing with thousands of intricately carved pumpkins, colourful Halloween displays and illuminated trails as Pumpkins After Dark continues its 2026 season.
Credit: Bernadette Gallagher/To Do Canada
The jack-o-lanterns and artistic pumpkin displays are at the heart of Edmonton’s annual Pumpkins After Dark. However, there are a few more ways on and off the pumpkin trail to make the most of your time at this Halloween spectacular.
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A bit about Pumpkins After Dark:
Each year, Pumpkins After Dark takes over Borden Park in central Edmonton, transforming it into a gallery of insanely detailed and awesomely artistic pumpkin carvings.
Upon entry, you’ll be guided by signs, pumpkins, and friendly staff members to the start of the trail. There is much to see and do around this part of the park, so take time to explore and experience the different activities. From here, you’ll get on the main trail and begin exploring the array of pumpkins out in the park after dark.
Keep in mind that this is a family-friendly event intended for all ages. There are live actors who add to the experience and put on a friendly face for the younger crowds. Pumpkins After Dark, including the intro activities and the whole trail, can take anywhere from a half-hour to an hour and a half.
Credit: Bernadette Gallagher/To Do Canada
Grab Snacks or Drinks for the Walk
This year’s Pumpkins After Dark features a couple of food trucks near the entrance, as well as a licensed bar. Plus, out along the trail are more drink carts that include warm drinks for those chillier fall evenings. You’ll have options like coffee, hot chocolate, pops, beers, or spiked warm beverages. The on-site food trucks are all locals who offer a few fall or Halloween-themed treats.
Before the Pumpkin Trail
Find plenty of activities at the start of the pumpkin trail and around the food trucks or bar. As soon as you enter Pumpkins After Dark, you’ll notice many photo opportunities. These include characters, props, and, of course, different pumpkins.
Those who get the maze combo when purchasing tickets will get access to two different black light mazes that offer kids a big challenge as they pass the glowing monsters and Halloween characters.
As a carved-pumpkin feature, the festival offers a pumpkin-carving station with demonstrations for different patterns and faces.
The Main Attraction: A Glowing Pumpkin Trail
The trail of pumpkin carvings is the main event of the festival. It begins near the bar and pumpkin-carving demonstrations, leading visitors into a slightly spookier version of Borden Park.
The trail winds around different sections and themes, many of which fit the theme, and others that are just for fun. This includes sections like the cemetery and pumpkin patch, or the trail of Disney characters.
These best part about Pumpkins After Dark 2026 is that these carvings are new and different from last year. And among all the pumpkins are several other features to help set the Halloween mood, like lighting, music, live actors, and other artistic displays.
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Exit Through the Pumpkin Patch
While it may not be an actual pumpkin patch, the exit out of Pumpkins After Dark takes you past displays of pumpkins and all other sorts of gourds in all shapes, colours, and sizes. All of these are for sale take home and carve, use for Thanksgiving dinner, or freeze for the winter. The area also features a Pumpkins After Dark merch table.
Trip Planning – Pumpkins After Dark Edmonton
Credit: Bernadette Gallagher/To Do Canada
When: Until October 31, 2026, including Thanksgiving weekend, October 9 to 12.
Where: Borden Park, 7727 Borden Park Road NW, Edmonton.
Entrance: Near the Borden Park Pool.
Admission: $24.81 per adult (18+), $19.09 per youth (4 to 17), and a family pack of four listed at $21 per person.
Parking: Public parking is available at the Edmonton EXPO Centre, north of the pool.
Public transit: Borden Park is within walking distance of the Stadium and Coliseum LRT stations.
Duration: Approximately 30 to 90 minutes.