Everything You Can’t Miss Pumpkinferno at Upper Canada Village

Head to Upper Canada to see over 7,000 designed and hand-carved pumpkins made into dazzling installations. You’ll be mesmerized by the pumpkin art as you enjoy this after dark stroll. Here’s everything you can’t miss and some fun ideas to add onto your adventure at Pumpkin Inferno in Upper Canada Village. 

Why You Need to Visit Pumpkinferno at Upper Canada Village

This is a quintessential fall activity with the backdrop of historic Upper Canada Village. See thousands of pumpkins illuminated in unique installations as you walk through the village. It’s the perfect fall night and you’ll find lots of great photo opportunities along the way.

How to Get to Pumpkinferno at Upper Canada Village

Pumpkinferno at Upper Canada Village Halloween is just over an hour from downtown Ottawa. Cornwall is a great stop on your way full of restaurants and a cute downtown. 

Things You Need to Do At Pumpkinferno:

Pumpkinferno may be the most unique Halloween activity I’ve ever taken part in. It’s been on my Ottawa area bucket list since I moved here and this season I finally made it happen. Even though it’s been on my bucket list, I wasn’t totally sure what to expect but it really blew me away. Here’s everything you can’t miss: 

Stroll Through the Pumpkinferno Path

Be ready for some incredibly beautiful displays in the dark. The pumpkin displays came to life and were unlike anything we could have imagined. 

Every year, Pumpkinferno features 7,000 realistic artificial pumpkins which are then hand carved to create the displays you’ll see at the event. The event features themed displays ranging from a tribute to Queen to a haunted graveyard to a mad science lab and so many more inbetween. We were surprised by the incredibly large size of some of the displays and the very intricate designs. The displays all glow, making it appear as though the design carved into the pumpkins are glowing in the dark, while the pumpkins themselves are hard to see. Some of the displays also have audio, creating a more immersive experience.

Admire Upper Canada’s Historic Buildings

Upper Canada Village is a living museum of what life was like in the 1800s. Even though the normal museum activities are suspended during Pumpkinferno, you still get to take in the beauty of the old buildings throughout the village. In some places, the buildings fade into the background, while in other places they become part of the display. We enjoyed the food display next to Willard’s Hotel and the graveyard display in front of the church. The buildings absolutely add to the magic of the evening.

Get a Fun Fall Photo

To add to the fun, there are some stops along the way for photo ops and interactive activities for kids and adults alike. There are also opportunities to purchase snacks and beverages during the event. 

A photo op at Pumpkinferno. Photo by Torie Wotton.

One display at Pumpkinferno. Photo by Torie Wotton.

Enjoy Seasonal Fall Treats 

Along with our event tickets, we made a reservation to have dinner at the Village. You can do this before or after doing the pumpkin walk.

There are two restaurants onsite, and both require reservations. We ate at Willard’s Hotel and the food was amazing! We were served a three course meal and every bite was delicious. Highlights included the warm apple cider, pumpkin soup and pork tenderloin with peppercorn sauce. Willard’s was able to accommodate dairy free options, just make sure to ask your server. 

In addition to the great food, Willard’s is a unique venue. Like all the buildings at the Upper Canada Village, Willard’s is authentic to the 1860s and is staged beautifully. This made it a unique dining experience.

Our second course at Willard’s Hotel. Torie Wotton.

Explore the Gift Shop

The Upper Canada Village Store is a great spot for seasonal finds. You can purchase fudge made on site and Upper Canada Village recipe books so you can recreate your favorite treats at home. The store also features home goods like candles and glassware and souvenir options for kids.

End The Evening With a Sweet Treat

After you’ve explored all the pumpkin fun, enjoy a beavertail at the exit and reminisce about your night. 

Pumpkinferno Dates, Hours and Tickets

We spent about an hour and half having our dinner and another hour exploring the pumpkins and the store before heading back to Ottawa. This is a must do fall activity for both kids and adults who are looking to get into the Halloween spirit. The event runs on select nights from September 29 until October 29. Tickets cost between $20 and $22 with children ages 0-4 entering for free. You can find more information and book your tickets here.

Activities to Add To Pumpkin Inferno at Upper Canada Village:

Explore Cornwall

From ruins to fun foodie finds and local shops, Cornwall is a great stop on your way to Pumpkin Inferno and somewhere to stay if you want to make it a staycation. Check out Julia’s guide of the best things to see and do in Cornwall. 

Hiking at Upper Canada Bird Sanctuary

This is a great spot to head if you like bird watching but the real gem is the hiking trails you can explore. We combined the red-wing, cedar and maple trails into one large loop that took us through the forest. The trails were all easy and we enjoyed the forest views. The birds were more active along some sections of the trail allowing us to see them up close which was actually pretty cool. This combined loop took us about an hour. Since we still had a bit of time, we also walked a section of the waterfront trail which can be accessed from the same parking lot.

The bird sanctuary is a great way to get outside and enjoy the fall colors before heading over to Pumpkinferno. There is free parking, you can use the washrooms at the visitor center and it’s less than a ten minute drive from the Upper Canada Village. When we were done hiking, we changed our clothes and headed over to the village. 

Hiking at Upper Canada Bird Sanctuary. Photo by Torie Wotton.

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