Pumpkins After Dark brings the Halloween spirit to Burnaby (PHOTOS)

Burnaby’s latest Halloween installation, Pumpkins After Dark, just opened and brings over 6,000 different carved pumpkins to Central Park and Swangard Stadium. The Burnaby Beacon was able to get a sneak peek at some of the different displays you’ll be able to enjoy at the event.

The event starts inside Swangard Stadium with different food trucks and a few individual pumpkin carvings on display. There was kettle corn and pumpkin spice lattes, along with poutine and mac and cheese. There is also a seating area where you can enjoy your food and listen to some Halloween tunes. While the display inside Swangard was enjoyable, the real event takes place inside Central Park.

You enter through a pumpkin archway with different carved pumpkins on all sides of you. Once through, you start to see the impressive pumpkin sculptures.

Each sculpture is made out of multiple pumpkins and there are different themes as you walk through the park. You start with some classic Halloween spooky creatures like the Minotaur and Medusa, then continue to a tropical area with toucans and elephants. There was even an area dedicated to the Chinese Zodiac calendar and a huge dragon breathing steam.

Each display is spread out through Central Park. You navigate through the dark and fog, which add to the spooky ambience, in search of the next sculpture. But don’t worry, the paths are very well marked and there are people all along the trail to guide you. We’d recommend visiting later in the evening when it gets darker for the full experience. Also, parents will be happy to hear this event is family-friendly and the little ones will have a great time.

There are also speakers throughout playing different music and sounds. It added to the excitement when you heard the sound of a lion roar in the distance.

Towards the end of the display are different pop culture displays featuring characters like Edward Scissorhands, Pikachu, and everyone’s favourite ogre, Shrek. You might think that ogres are more like onions because of their many layers, but we hope you’re not disappointed by this pumpkin one.

Tickets for Pumpkins After Dark are on sale now and can be purchased online. This spooktacular event started Sept. 22 and runs until Oct. 31. Adult tickets cost $21.95, ages 17 and under can get in for $17.95, or you can buy a family pack for $74.80, which includes two adult and two youth tickets. Children under three can attend for free with no ticket required.

Pumpkins After Dark

Address: Swangard Stadium, 3883 Imperial St.