Pumpkin parades to light up many Toronto parks on November 1

Next Tuesday, 34 parks across Toronto will glow orange as local residents bid a final farewell to their jack-o-lanterns with a community Pumpkin Parade.

A Toronto tradition since the first pumpkin parade was organized in Sorauren Park in 2004, the parades are now hosted in parks across the city from Terraview Park in Scarborough to Centennial Park in Etobicoke. The idea has spread to other cities, including Montreal and New York City.

"Pumpkin parades are among the most anticipated events in Toronto's parks," said Councillor Michelle Holland (Ward 35 Scarborough Southwest), Chair of the Parks and Environment Committee. "It is so heartwarming to visit a pumpkin parade and to see communities come together in their public spaces."

The pumpkin parades are organized by community organizations, Business Improvement Areas and City councillors with a permit from Parks, Forestry and Recreation. The City's Solid Waste Management division provides disposal bins to the organizers to make cleanup of the pumpkins quick and easy after the event. This measure ensures pumpkins are picked up and taken to the City's organics processing facility to be broken down and returned to park lands and gardens as compost.

"Our parks are our common grounds, the spaces where we can come together to meet our neighbours, to get active and to participate in the life of our city," said Janie Romoff, General Manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation. "Our staff are proud to support local community organizations in offering programming and events in parks like pumpkin parades and other events that help to define and build neighbourhood communities."

A map of all 34 pumpkin parades, including hours and links for more information, is available at http://bit.ly/2e5l441.

(Source: City of Toronto)