Halloween is a whirlwind of excitement, sugar, and spooky fun.

But what happens when the holiday is over?

Whether you are reading this before Halloween as you put the finishing touches on your porch display and planning your weekend, or after the trick-or-treaters have gone to bed and you’re staring at a collection of carved jack-o’-lanterns wondering what on earth to do with them next.

The Ottawa South Eco-Action Network (OSEAN) and the Brookfield Community Food Cupboard (BCFC) invite you to Pumpkinfest 2026, the ultimate community event designed to bridge the gap between Halloween night and the rest of November!

Here is how you can celebrate the season, give back, and responsibly retire your Halloween pumpkins.

📝 The Essential Details

• When: Sunday, November 8th ~ Noon – 4:00 PM
  (Pumpkin Drop is 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM)
• Where: Ernie Calcutt Park (759 Mooney’s Bay Place)
• Who: Families, pets, and anyone looking to extend the Halloween fun!
• Cost: 100% Free!

🎃 Pumpkin Alley & Family Fun

Wear your favorite Halloween costume and bring the family for an afternoon of:

• Pumpkin Alley: Stroll through a breathtaking display of 100s of carved and decorated pumpkins.
• Spooky Activities: Enjoy face painting, mazes, a community scavenger hunt, and kids’ games.
• Cozy Treats: Warm up with environmental hot chocolate and tasty treats.
• Community Heroes: Take fire truck tours and enjoy meet-and-greets with local firefighters!
• Capture the Memory: An onsite photographer will be there to take pictures of both people and pets in their costumes.

Between 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM (weather permitting), you can participate in the Pumpkin Drop. Local firefighters will join us and drop the pumpkins from the ladder truck!

🥫 Fill the Cupboard: A Post-Holiday Giveback

Halloween is about sharing treats, and PumpkinFest is about sharing the love year-round. The Brookfield Community Food Cupboard will be on-site throughout the event accepting non-perishable and monetary donations to support local food security.

If you are doing your holiday grocery shopping, consider picking up a few extra items for the drive. Their most needed non-perishables right now are:

• Soups
• Rice, Pasta & Sauce
• Canned Meat or Tuna
• Dried Beans and Lentils

For more information, visit osean.org/pumpkins-for-the-planet.

We can’t wait to see you in your costumes at Ernie Calcutt Park!