Harbord Village’s cherished pumpkin festival is back this year on Nov. 1. Dozens of pumpkins will light up the neighbourhood along Harbord Street, from Spadina Avenue to Borden Street. After what seems like years of construction, neighbours can finally begin to reclaim their street and gather for what has historically been a cherished event.

Between 5:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., people will parade along the street to view each of the lit pumpkins, drinking hot apple cider, eating baked goods from Harbord Bakery, and displaying the last of their Halloween spirit. Pumpkins carved at homes in the neighbourhood are brought to Harbord Street for a “reshowing.” 

A lot of effort goes into this green community event. Sponsored by the Harbord Street BIA and the Harbord Village Residents’ Association, event staff hire students to prepare and clean up after the festival. “We call them the pumpkin heads,” said Neil Wright, chair of the Harbord Street BIA, and they do the heavy lifting, taking carved pumpkins from neighbourhood porches. Local businesses provide free food and drink for the public along with their own admirable creations. At the end of the night, the city collects and recycles the artwork. 

Residents within Harbord Village receive a blue flyer explaining the event and if they wish to contribute their pumpkins to the event they leave the flyer near the pumpkin for volunteers to collect on Nov 1. 

Harbord Village has opened the event up again this year to anyone willing to contribute their jack-o-lanterns to the parade; the more, the merrier at this family-oriented event

—Brian Burchell/Gleaner News

READ MORE:

• NEWS: Carved pumpkins to enjoy an encore on Harbord Street (Fall 2023)
• ON THE COVER: Pumpkin Festival returns (Nov. 2022)
• CHATTER: Harbord Village’s Pumpkin Festival returns (Nov. 2022)
• CHATTER: Send your pumpkin back to the patch on November 1 (City Election 2018)
• CHATTER: A patch of orange (Nov. 2015)
• CHATTER: 6^th Annual Harbord Street Pumpkin Festival (Nov. 2013)