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: contact for times
Public Tours: 8:00 and 8:30 p.m.
$13.00 per person, including tax**
Would your Community Group, Bus Tour, Club, Scouts or Girl Guides like to join us on Walk-Thru Nights?
Reserve your spot today and be part of the magic!
Contact us to learn more at: reservationsHHP@ontario.ca
Secrets of Séance
Thursday – Sunday $24.00 per person (plus regular Pumpkinferno admission).
Must be pre-booked.
Bo’sun’s Brig: Escape Room
Thursday – Sunday $24.00 per person (plus regular Pumpkinferno admission).
Must be pre-booked.
Extra Fun
Coffin Ride, 5-Minute Escape Room, glowing cotton candy & tasty treats! Buy online or on-site (Thurs–Sun).
Parking and shuttles
Walkable Parking
- Thursday–Sunday: Main parking at 93 Jury Drive (first come, first served).
- Overflow at Huronia Park, 250 Fox Street, Penetanguishene → a 5–10 minute walk to Discovery Harbour.
(No shuttle service from this lot.)
Shuttle Parking
- Friday & Saturday evenings (plus Thanksgiving Sunday): Park at Waypoint Centre and hop on the free shuttle straight to the heart of the action.
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.
Allow at least 1.5 to 2 hours of time to enjoy Pumpkinferno
Even more if you plan on spending time watching the performers, experiencing Secrets of Séance or the Bo’sun’s Brig: Escape Room
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. Pre-booking is required.
- 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! Pre-booking is required.
- Photo opportunities: step into our themed sets and glowing backdrops, perfect for capturing memorable fall snapshots with friends or family.
Book in advance or at the door?
Add-ons like the Coffin Ride and ‘Wristrained” can be booked online or upon arrival. Experiences like the Bo’sun’s Brig Escape Room and Secrets of Séance have very limited capacities, so we recommend you book those online, in advance.
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; a schedule will be posted here and on our social channels once available.
Hungry for more than haunts?
Pumpkinferno has you covered! Enjoy spooky sips and monstrous munchies at the Bubbling Cauldron Café and Swamp Snack Shack, plus a rotating selection of delicious bites from local food trucks.
Drive-Thru Experience
On Wednesday nights, Pumpkinferno transforms into a special drive-thru event designed for accessibility and community groups — and later in the evening, it opens to the wider public. Experience the magic of the glowing displays from the comfort of your car.
Wednesday info
- Wednesdays from October 1 to October 29
- 30-minute driving tours
- $13 per person tax included (free admission programs available)
- Limited spots! Reservations and prepayment required
For Community & Accessibility Groups
- Early-evening time slots are set aside exclusively for community organizations and guests with accessibility needs.
- To request one of these reserved times, please connect with our Booking Coordinator.
- Questions about groups? Contact: reservationsHHP@ontario.ca
For the General Public
- At 8:00 PM and 8:30 PM, the drive-thru is open for everyone to enjoy.
Can we get out of our vehicles to take pictures?
You’ll have lots of chances to capture the magic! Since the drive-thru is a loop, you’ll experience the glowing displays both on the way in and on the way out — giving you two opportunities to snap photos right from your car. For safety reasons, all guests are asked to remain inside their vehicles during the drive-thru.
Plan your visit
Plan ahead for a smooth visit:
- 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.
Can I bring my pet to Pumpkinferno?
To keep all our guests safe and the magic flowing, pets are not allowed at Pumpkinferno. Only service animals are permitted, so everyone can enjoy the glowing displays and enchanted atmosphere.
Special Experiences
Don’t miss these limited capacity experiences designed to compliment your Pumpkinferno visit:
Bo’sun’s Brig: Escape Room
Gather your team of 3–6 players and take on the challenge of escaping our historic prison!
- Showtimes: 4:30 PM, 6:00 PM, 7:30 PM & 9:00 PM
- Duration: 60 minutes
- Tickets: $24 per person (includes tax , Pumpkinferno admission is additional and required)
- Important: Advance tickets are required, as space is limited.
- Please note: free admission programs do not apply to this experience.
Secrets of Séance
Step into the mysterious world of the supernatural in this immersive experience. Dare to uncover the secrets that lie beyond the veil… if you’re brave enough.
- Showtimes: 5:00 PM, 6:30 PM & 8:00 PM
- Duration: 60 minutes
- Tickets: $24 per person (includes tax , Pumpkinferno admission is additional and required)
- Important: Advance tickets are required, as space is limited.
- Please note: free admission programs do not apply to this experience.
Shuttle Buses
Enjoy a free, convenient shuttle to Pumpkinferno — free to park, free to ride! Shuttles run on select evenings throughout the season, delivering guests directly to the heart of the glowing displays so you can step straight into the magic.
Schedule
- Friday, Oct 3 & Saturday, Oct 4
- Friday, Oct 10 & Saturday, Oct 11 & Sunday, Oct 12
- Friday, Oct 17 & Saturday, Oct 18
- Friday, Oct 24 & Saturday, Oct 25
Times
Shuttles will run from 5:30pm – 10:00pm
Location
Points of entrance
NEW this year, the shuttle bus will drop visitors off at the North entrance. This entrance is open to shuttle bus riders only. Visitors who are not taking the shuttle bus will enter at the South entrance (93 Jury Drive).
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 Community 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 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Friday, Saturday 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 allow 15 to 30 minutes early to allow time for parking and entrance via 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), the Swamp Snack Shack. Food truck may also be on site, schedule may vary.
- 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, the Coffin Ride 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, Thursday through Sunday!
Q-Are dogs allowed on site?
A-Only service dogs are allowed on site during Pumpkinferno. Pets must remain at home.
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) and the Swamp Snack Shack. All forms of payments are accepted, except Amex. Additional food vendors may be in attendance – many food vendors only accept cash. There is no ATM located at Discovery Harbour.
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 Tourism, Culture and Gaming.
