Bwoohahaha! The leaves are turning, the air’s got that bite to it, and out in Munster, the screams have already started. Saunders Farm’s 35th Haunting Season — PumpkinFest and FrightFest — kicked off September 26 and runs through the fall, and this year it’s carrying some extra weight: 2026 marks 50 years of Saunders Farm as an Ottawa-area institution.
For generations of families in the region, fall hasn’t really felt like fall without a trip out to the farm. This year, that tradition gets a milestone to match — half a century in the community, alongside 35 years of scaring the daylights out of anyone brave enough to walk through FrightFest after dark.
Fifty Years in the Making
“This is a really special year for our family and for everyone who has been part of Saunders Farm over the last 50 years,” said Mark Saunders, Director of Fun at Saunders Farm. “Haunting Season has become such an important part of that story. We have guests who first came here as kids and are now bringing their own children — and the same is true of our team. Some people get their first job here, come back year after year, and eventually return as adults. That sense of tradition is what makes this place so special.”
It’s the kind of multi-generational loyalty a lot of attractions only wish they had — kids who grew up screaming their way through the Haunted Hayride are now the ones bringing their own kids out for pumpkin picking, and in some cases, the same people who once worked the haunts as teenagers are back running the show as adults.
35 Years of Scares, Plus a Few New Ones
FrightFest, the farm’s after-dark haunted experience, returns this year with seven immersive haunted attractions, scare zones, roaming monsters, live entertainment, food, and Saunders Cider to take the edge off once you’ve made it out alive.
The headline change for longtime fans: Shambles, one of Saunders Farm’s classic haunts, has been completely rebuilt from the ground up with brand-new sets and characters, giving even FrightFest veterans something they haven’t seen before.
There’s also a literal new high point this year — a brand-new Ferris wheel that lets guests take in FrightFest from well above the scare zones, for anyone who’d rather survey the chaos than wade through it.
Returning favourites round out the lineup, including:
- The Coven
- Circus Macabre
- The Sawmill
- The Haunted Hayride
- Barn of Terror
- The Cemetery Scare Zone
- Street theatre and live shows
- A 600-foot zipline
FrightFest runs Friday & Saturday nights (PLUS Halloweek)! Peak days are our busiest dates, while off-peak days are typically a little quieter, with shorter lines and lower ticket prices.
PumpkinFest Keeps the Daytime Fun Family-Friendly
For those who’d rather do their fall fun in daylight, PumpkinFest runs alongside FrightFest with a far gentler brand of magic — Ottawa-grown pumpkins, hayrides, the farm’s world-famous hedge mazes, daytime haunts, live entertainment, food, and family attractions built for guests who aren’t quite ready for the zipline, let alone the zombies.
Saunders summed up the spirit of the anniversary season simply: “Whether you’ve been coming to Saunders Farm for decades or this is your first visit, we want this fall to feel like a celebration. Fifty years is an incredible milestone, but we’re just as excited about what comes next — the family memories made here that lead to life-long traditions.”
The People Behind the Scares
A season this big doesn’t run itself. This fall, approximately 400 staff members are helping bring Saunders Farm to life, including nearly 100 actors dedicated to delivering the screams at FrightFest.
The team is a mix of familiar faces and newcomers — 40 per cent of employees are new this season, while 60 per cent are returning, with roughly the same split among FrightFest’s actors. About 220 team members are under the age of 25, while some staff have been part of FrightFest for more than 15 years.
As one of the region’s largest employers of youth, Saunders Farm has served as a first job for generations of young people in the area, many of whom return season after season — and sometimes years later as adults.
“Behind every scare, every hayride and every family memory is an incredible team,” Saunders said. “Seeing someone starting their very first job working alongside people who have been with us for 10 or 15 years is a pretty remarkable way to celebrate our 50th anniversary.”
Plan Your Visit
Haunting Season is underway now at Saunders Farm, 7893 Bleeks Road in Munster. FrightFest runs Friday and Saturday nights, plus Halloweek, while PumpkinFest runs Saturdays and Sundays during the day, plus Thanksgiving Monday.
For tickets and the full Haunting Season schedule, visit SaundersFarm.com.
