Essex Parks and Recreation

Announcements & News

🎃 SAVE THE DATE — THE 26TH ANNUAL IVORYTON VILLAGE PUMPKIN FESTIVAL! 🎃

One of Essex Park & Recreation’s favorite fall traditions is back! Join us in historic Ivoryton for a full day of pumpkins, costumes, music, treats and plenty of Halloween fun!

📅 Saturday, October 24, 2026
🎃 Pumpkin Carving Party — 10:00 AM–12 Noon at Bushy Hill Nature Center
🕟 Costume Parade — 4:30 PM
📍 Parade Location — TBD
🎃 Festival Activities — 5:00–7:00 PM
📍 Ivoryton Village

🎃 PUMPKIN CARVING PARTY AT BUSHY HILL NATURE CENTER
Start your Pumpkin Festival day at Bushy Hill Nature Center, 253 Bushy Hill Road, Ivoryton, from 10:00 AM–12 Noon for a Pumpkin Carving Party!

Pumpkins will be available while supplies last. Come carve a pumpkin on the Nature Center front lawn and help us create the amazing Jack-O’-Lantern display that will light up Ivoryton later that evening. All ages and abilities are welcome!

👻 COSTUME PARADE
Come dressed in your Halloween best! Our Costume Parade kicks off at 4:30 PM and is the perfect way to start the evening festivities. The parade starting location and route are still being finalized and will be announced soon.

🎃 THE GREAT PUMPKIN CHALLENGE
We need your help lighting up Ivoryton! Families, friends, community groups, businesses and organizations are encouraged to carve pumpkins and help us create our incredible Jack-O’-Lantern display!

We will have approximately 75 pumpkins available for community members and organizations to carve. Pumpkins may be picked up ahead of time, and we encourage everyone to help us fill the Green with as many carved pumpkins as possible!

✨ The more pumpkins, the more magical Ivoryton looks after dark!

🍬 TRUNK-OR-TREAT
Our friends and partners at the Ivoryton Alliance will once again be coordinating the popular Trunk-or-Treat as part of the evening’s festivities!

🎶 MORE FESTIVAL FUN!
Come enjoy an evening of Halloween fun throughout Ivoryton featuring:

🎃 Glowing Jack-O’-Lanterns
🍬 Trunk-or-Treat
🎨 Face Painting
🎶 Live Music
🐴 Horse-Drawn Hayrides
👻 Haunted Happenings at the Ivoryton Library
🍭 Family Activities & More!

🚗 IMPORTANT PARKING INFORMATION
Please plan ahead! The Ivoryton Green parking lot will NOT be available for public parking due to festival preparations. Parking in the Village will be limited. Please allow extra time, carpool when possible and be prepared to walk to the festivities.

🧡 WE NEED PUMPKIN CARVERS!
One of the things that makes this festival so special is the incredible display of carved pumpkins throughout the Green—and we need the community’s help to make it happen!

If your family, organization, club or business would like to reserve pumpkins to carve, please contact Essex Park & Recreation. Pumpkins may be picked up ahead of time, but all carved pumpkins must be returned to the Ivoryton Village Green between 12:00–3:00 PM on Saturday, October 24.

🎃 MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

10:00 AM–12 Noon — Pumpkin Carving Party at Bushy Hill Nature Center
4:30 PM — Costume Parade | Location TBD
5:00–7:00 PM — Ivoryton Village Pumpkin Festival

👻 Start planning those costumes!
🎃 Help us carve those pumpkins!
🧡 Bring the family!
✨ And help us LIGHT UP IVORYTON!

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