The Great Pumpkin Trail is back for its 37th anniversary at Muskoka Heritage Place (88 Brunel Road) on October 31, 2025, from 5:00 to 7:30 pm.
This family-friendly Hallowe’en event is a traffic-free trick-or-treat experience, helping to keep kids safe and parents at ease. Autism Ontario will be onsite from 4:30 to 5:00 pm for those looking for a more sensory-friendly experience.
The pioneer buildings are decorated by local businesses and community members and are aimed to spook but not haunt, keeping the event fun for the younger trick-or-treaters. Mayor Nancy Alcock will judge and award the best decorated building. Visit the online interactive story map of the Great Pumpkin Trail for the themes and sponsors of each building.
“This Hallowe’en experience is well-loved by the community and gives a safe environment for younger kids, while also providing a great trick-or-treat destination for the rural households of Huntsville” shares Jillian Jordan, Manager of Muskoka Heritage Place. “Our local businesses are also very engaged, and it shows in the effort they put into decorating our pioneer buildings.”
Want to sponsor and decorate a pioneer building? Local businesses and organizations are encouraged to email [email protected] by October 24, 2025 for more information.
What do you need to experience the Great Pumpkin Trail? Costumes and something to hold all the candy are recommended! The event is outdoors, rain, shine or snow, so check the weather before heading out and dress appropriately. Cost for entry is $10 per immediate family, or $3 per head. Last entry is at 7:00 pm. Please leave pets at home; service animals are welcome.
For more information visit Muskokaheritageplace.ca.
From Muskoka Heritage Place
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Spent the evening handing out goodies to the little ones at the Village last night. I know. Heritage Place. But I spent years volunteering at the Village and some things just don’t change. It was not that pleasant an evening, so my congratulations to all those who managed to bring their children around. Tricia and I were in the ‘Darling” house, and there was a fair number of kids out for the goodies. Good to see you Helena!
There was no such thing as the Village when I trod the roads. No ‘one stop shopping’ for us. And no subdivisions with a concentration of homes. We legged it for miles. We would visit Buck’s and Tebby’s. Carter’s, Smith’s and Snowden’s. Earl’s, Young’s,, Grey’s and Moulton’s. Then another Young’s. Brooks and Vince’s. On up to Oke’s and Reid’s. If we went further it was down the hill past Wain’s and across the old one lane Locks bridge. Depended on the weather.
Back then I was particularly fond of the places where the ladies made their own treats. Little paper handouts full of popcorn. Homemade chocolates. Carmel apples and crispy squares with chopped nuts and cherries. And if you got 5 cent chocolate bars, that was okay. They were about as large as standard bars today. I really liked the Malted Milk ‘Tootsie’ rolls and jaw-breakers were good too.
And a pox on anyone who fobbed off those molasses flavored gobs. Individually wrapped with orange and black paper displaying cats and witches, scarecrows and ghosts. Pah! My father was the only one who liked them. And he was welcome to them.
As I mentioned, It wasn’t that great an evening, but back in the day we sort of honored bits of that postal creed where “neither rain nor heat nor gloom of night’ will keep these gatherers from getting some treats.
Boo! And Happy Hallowe’en.
The dancing witches will be there again this year brought to you by the Huntsville Festival of the Arts!🎃👻💀🧙♀️