Pumpkinferno at Discovery Harbour
A magical fall adventure with glowing pumpkins, tasty treats and unforgettable memories.
Walk-thru
Thursday – Sunday
October 2 – November 1
6:00 – 10:00 pm
$15.00 per person, including tax
Accessible drive-thru
Wednesdays October 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29
Accessibility, community groups + open to the public
$13.00 per person, including tax
Secrets of Séance
Thursday – Sunday $39.00 per person includes admission to Pumpkinferno.
Must be pre-booked.
Bo’sun’s Brig: Escape Room
Thursday – Sunday $39.00 per person includes admission to Pumpkinferno.
Must be pre-booked.
Extra Fun
Coffin Ride, 5-Minute Escape Room, glowing cotton candy & tasty treats! Buy online or on-site (Thurs–Sun).
What to expect
Thursday – Sunday
Step into a glowing wonderland of more than 5,000 hand-carved “fun-kins” lighting up Discovery Harbour’s historic grounds. Along the way, you’ll encounter:
🎃 Towering displays of intricately carved pumpkins with themes ranging from whimsical to spooky.
🎭 Roving buskers and performers adding live entertainment throughout select areas.
🏚️ Macabre Mansion with haunting details around every turn.
☣️ The Toxic Swamp with eerie lights, swirling fog, and mysterious creatures.
⚓ The scenic backdrop of Discovery Harbour transformed into a magical fall experience.
✨ Tip: Allow at least 1.5-2 hours (or more!) for the full experience.
Additional experiences
Add a little extra thrill to your evening:
⚰️ Coffin Ride: a one-person experience for $5 (tax included). Not recommended for children under 13 or anyone with claustrophobia.
🔐 “Wristrained” mini-escape challenge: 5 minutes, 5 people, $5 each. Mature 13+, includes a jump-scare. Test your wits fast!
🕯️ Secrets of Séance: begin with a chilling, traditional-style séance, then uncover the hidden tricks 19th-century spiritualists used to create their eerie illusions.
🗝️ The Bosun’s Brig: Escape Room: a 60-minute, 3–6 person challenge to outwit the fearsome Bo’sun Starkweather, solve his twisted puzzles, and break free!
📸 Photo opportunities: step into our themed sets and glowing backdrops, perfect for capturing memorable fall snapshots with friends or family.
Food and refreshments
Warm up and refuel with seasonal treats:
☕ Bubbling Cauldron Café — serving hot drinks, Glowing Cotton Candy, Witch’s Brew (blue raspberry lemonade) and many other spooky treats!
🧪 Swamp Snack Shack — hot coffee, Witch’s Brew (blue lemonade), popcorn, and other tasty snacks.
🚚 Food Trucks (select nights) — rotating local favourites; check schedule for offerings.
🕕 Hours: Café and Snack Shack open nightly during event hours. Food trucks may vary by night.
Drive-Thru Experience
On Wednesday nights, Pumpkinferno transforms into a special drive-thru event designed for accessibility and community groups.
🚘 Experience the glowing displays from the comfort of your car
♿ Ideal for guests with accessibility needs and community organizations
⏱️ Two reserved time slots are dedicated to accessibility and community groups (pre-booking is essential)
🕗 Two public time slots are also available at 8:00 PM and 8:30 PM
Plan your visit
Plan ahead for a smooth visit:
- 🚗 Parking: Free on-site parking available at 93 Jury Drive.
- 🚌 Shuttle Service: Running on select nights to help guests get to and from the site with ease. Schedule to be announced.
- 🌧️ Weather: Event runs rain or shine — dress warmly and wear comfortable shoes.
- 🐕 Pets: Service animals welcome; other pets not permitted.
- 📸 Photos encouraged! Share your Pumpkinferno moments on social.
- 🥫 Donations: Support the local food bank with non-perishable items.
2025 Dates
October 1 to November 1
Walk-Thru (Thursday to Sunday)
- The walk-through experience runs 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- $15 per person tax included (free admission programs available)
- Group rates available
Accessibility Nights (Drive-Thru)
These dates are reserved for guests or groups with limited mobility or sensory processing issues who can ride in the comfort of their own vehicles to view Pumpkinferno displays.
- Wednesdays from October 1 to October 29
- 30-minute driving tours start at 8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
- $13 per person tax included (free admission programs available)
- Limited spots! Reservations and prepayment required
Community Group Organizers
- Drive-Thru Accessibility Nights (Wednesdays)
- You may qualify for earlier Drive-Thru timeslots
- $13 per person tax incl. (free admission programs available)
- Reservations and prepayment required
- Walk-Thru (Thursday to Sunday)
- Ask about our group rates
- Contact our Tour Coordinator at: reservationshhp@ontario.ca
Escape Room (Thursday to Sunday)
- Bosun’s Brig: Escape Room: Bring your team of 3-6 players and escape our historic prison!
- Advance ticket purchase is required, as space is limited
- Escape Room Times coming soon!
- $39 per person, tax and Pumpkinferno admission included
- Sorry, free admission programs do not qualify for this experience
All the details!
- Discovery Harbour is transformed with more than 5,000 artificial “fun-kins”, lights, music and activities!
- Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday bring the whole family and experience the walk-thru Pumpkinferno magic.
- Service animals only at this special event
- Backpacks may be searched at the gate
- Food donations are being accepted for local food banks; thank you for your generosity!
- The event takes place mostly outdoors and will run rain or shine. Please dress accordingly.
Thursday through Sunday
- Roving buskers will delight and entertain visitors with fire, magic and more!
- Explore Grimm Reaper’s Grove if you dare!
- Wander Scarecrow Alley
- The Macabre Mansion will mystify you with our special effects experience!
- Marvel at the haunted ship display in the H.M.S. Tecumseth Centre!
Food options
- The Bubbling Cauldron Café will be open with glowing cotton candy, hot chocolate, spooky snacks and more
- Serving up pizza by the slice
- Food truck options coming soon!
Extra fun
Add extra fun to your Pumpkinferno evening with these experiences:
- The Coffin Ride returns! An immersive experience like no other!
- This is a one-person experience
- $5 per person (includes tax)
- Not suggested for those with fear of confinement
- Not suggested for kids under the age of 13
- Wristrained! Five minute, mini-escape room. Five go in…will all escape…intact?
- This is a five-person, five-minute experience
- $5 per person (includes tax)
- There will be a jump-scare (that’s all we can say!)
- Mature theme
- Not suggested for kids under the age of 13
Thanks to our sponsors!
Image gallery
Please click each image below to see a larger version.
Apply as an artisan or food vendor!
Thursday to Sunday from 6 to 10 p.m. – October 1 to November 1
Attention merchants of the odd, curious, unique…peddlers of exotic and rare treasures… crafters, makers, bakers and artisans.
Huronia Historical Parks is seeking vendors featuring unique artifacts and local, handmade goods.
Apply now for our dynamic, well-promoted, fun and family-friendly event featuring indoor markets. Find all the details, including fees, table space, and insurance requirements, in our online artisan application form:
Free admission programs
Please present ID (if applicable) upon arrival:
- Indigenous Peoples
- Discovery Harbour/Sainte-Marie Season Pass Holders
- Past and present members of the Canadian Armed Forces
- Kids five and under
- Please note our Free Admission program for Teachers does not apply for this event
- Free admission programs are not eligible for the Escape Room, Coffin ride, Secret of Séance, or Wristrained
Looking to book a group?
Contact us via email for more information: reservationsHHP@Ontario.ca
RVs and Buses
Please note, that due to limited available parking space, we are not able to accommodate RV and bus parking at Discovery Harbour during special events (Pumpkinferno). Please reach out to us directly to discuss alternate parking options if you are planning on attending this special event in 2025.
Food Trucks
Calling all food trucks operators 
Discovery Harbour is looking for expressions of interest for our Pumpkinferno event running October 1 to November 1. The event is open to the public from 5 to 10 p.m. on Saturdays and 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Sunday.
Please reach out via email to Nathalie.Canto@Ontario.ca for an application and to find out how you can secure your spot in this award-winning event welcoming thousands of visitors to Penetanguishene!
Expressions of interest will be received until Monday, September 22 at 4 p.m.
While we love our furry friends, we are not able to accommodate pets at this special event (service dogs are welcomed of course). Thank you for your understanding.
- Please arrive 15 to 20 minutes early to allow time to complete payment at admissions.
- Free parking is available on site.
- Check our social media accounts for up-to-date information about FREE shuttle bus details.
- Flashlights are permitted.
- Taking photos is encouraged.
- Smoking or vaping (including marijuana) is not permitted on Discovery Harbour property.
- Spooky snacks will be available for purchase at the Bubbling Cauldron Café (Garrison Hall).
- Please note this event takes place mostly outdoors and visitors should plan to dress accordingly for weather and terrain.
Q-What is Pumpkinferno?
A-Join us for a spooky Halloween event held at Discovery Harbour. Favourite features include dozens of carved ‘fun-kin’ displays, the Macabre Mansion, Grimm Reaper’s Grove and more!
Q-Is this event appropriate for kids?
A-The ‘fun-kin’ displays at Pumpkinferno are appropriate for all ages. This year we are also featuring on-site family-friendly roving buskers each night!
Q-Are dogs allowed on site?
A-Only service dogs are allowed on site during Pumpkinferno.
Q-Do you have food and retail services on site?
A- Snacks and drinks will be available at the Bubbling Cauldron Café (located at the North End of the event). All forms of payments are accepted, except Amex.
A variety of Halloween goodies, trinkets and more are available for purchase at the Bubbling Cauldron Café.
93 Jury Drive, Penetanguishene, L9M 1G1
Parking info
Please park in the parking lot provided and make your way on foot through the black entrance gates to the boardwalk area and The Charthouse (Admissions building).
Need more info?
Please contact us at hhp@ontario.ca or (705) 549-8064 if you have any questions.
Discovery Harbour traces its roots back to the original British naval and military base in Penetanguishene, built to safeguard access to Upper Canada after the War of 1812.
“His Majesty’s Naval Establishment on Lake Huron”, (as it was first called) kept ships prepared to supply British posts to the northwest. By 1820, it was home to over 70 people, including sailors, officers, shipwrights, and soldiers. Five large ships, 15 smaller vessels, and numerous workshops and dwellings were built.
In 1828, a British garrison on Drummond Island was relocated to Penetanguishene. By 1834, Canada was defended exclusively by these forces. An impressive stone Officers’ Quarters was built in 1845. The military occupied the site until 1856.
Discovery Harbour is operated by Huronia Historical Parks, and is an Attraction of the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries.
