Interested in becoming a Volunteer?

Looking to experience Canada’s largest Halloween festival and make a difference in your community? Join us at Pumpkins After Dark as a volunteer!

We’re looking for enthusiastic individuals to help us make this event a success. Pumpkins After Dark runs from September 28th to October 31st (Thursday to Sunday) at Wesley Clover Parks in Ottawa.

As a volunteer, you’ll have the opportunity to learn new skills, meet new people, and gain valuable experience in the events industry. Plus, you’ll be able to add your volunteering experience to your resume and feel great about giving back to the community.

We have a variety of positions available, including leadership roles, décor team, and customer service. Whether you’re looking to take charge or work behind the scenes, there’s a role for everyone.

Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to be part of Canada’s largest Halloween festival. Join us at Pumpkins After Dark!

Volunteer Registration

Opportunities

Task: Welcoming attendees & scanning tickets in a fast-paced environment.

Skills/Requirements: Customer service role; must be knowledgeable about the event, with a friendly and outgoing attitude.

Minimum Age: 15

Task: Greeting attendees as they arrive to the event, directing lineups, answering questions, and controlling timed ticket entry.

Skills/Requirements:Friendly, strong communication skills, ability to stand for long periods of time.
Proper attire – this is an outdoor position.

Minimum Age: 16

Task: Sell pumpkin-branded and LED items in the merchandise tent. Greet and engage with customers. Answer questions about products and pricing and recommend products that meet the customer’s needs and preferences. Enter sale items into the POS system, and process transactions and handle payments. Responsible for restocking items and display of merchandise daily while maintaining a clean and organized store environment.

Skills/Requirements: Outgoing and friendly attitude with strong communication skills, product knowledge, and ability to work well with a team. Sales experience is an asset. Ability to handle cash, credit, and debit transactions (Square experience is an asset). Must be able to stand for long periods of time. Proper attire is required – this is an outdoor position.

Minimum Age: 16

Task: Interacting with attendees in the store, selling pumpkins, restocking the pumpkins, and maintaining a clean and organized store environment.

Skills/Requirements: Friendly & outgoing with the ability to engage others in conversation. Experience handling cash, credit, and debit transactions (Square experience is an asset). Sales experience is an asset.

Minimum Age: 16

Task: Ensuring guests safely enter and exit the ‘Pumpkin Pathway’ by directing the flow of guests, answering questions, and assisting with access when needed. Responsibilities include collecting tickets, learning basic event knowledge to answer questions, and providing directions. Will act as a floater to cover other roles when needed.

Skills/Requirements: Friendly, outgoing, ability to speak loudly. Must be able to stand for long periods of time. Willingness to learn other roles to assist as floater when needed. Proper attire – this is an outdoor position.

Minimum Age: 15

Task: Monitor the ‘Pumpkin Pathway’ to ensure that guests adhere to event rules and guidelines to create a positive and safe experience for everyone. Watch for possible safety concerns, such as tripping hazards, and report concerns to the team lead. Provide customer service by welcoming guests, answering questions, and helping with any concerns that may arise.

Skills/Requirements: Team player, friendly, and outgoing. Ability to speak loudly and remain calm in case of emergency or safety concern. Comfortable working outdoors and the ability to stand or walk for an extended period. Proper attire for an outdoor environment in any weather condition.

Minimum Age: 15

Team Lead Opportunities

Task: Oversee a team of staff in the box office area. Ensure all team members are signed in and out of their shifts, all positions are covered, assist staff during busy times, and provide customer service in times of guest concerns, questions, and resolve ticket issues. Responsible for daily inventory of pre-sold items at the box office and managing group ticket check-ins.

Skills/Requirements: Leadership and strong communication skills, organized, friendly and outgoing attitude, ability to identify issues and concerns with staff and guests, knowledge about the event, and ability to troubleshoot technology concerns (ticket scanning equipment). Customer service experience is an asset.

Minimum Age: 18

 

This position also requires an Assistant Team Lead.
As an assistant team lead you will preform all duties of the Box Office & Ticket Scanning role and cover the team lead position if necessary.

Task: Leading a team to ensure the smooth operation of the merchandise tent. Ensure that the merch tent is well-staffed, and schedules are being followed, delegate tasks and motivate the team to deliver excellent customer service. Responsible for cashing out the sales daily, tracking inventory of items, and reporting low stock to the show manager. Ensure the merch tent is set up and closed daily, while maintaining a clean and organized store environment.

Skills/Requirements: Strong communication and leadership skills with an understanding of retail sales. Experience handling cash, credit, and debit transactions on a POS system (Square experience is an asset). Ability to identify issues and concerns with staff and guests and understanding of how to address them. Must be able to stand for long periods of time. Proper attire is required – this is an outdoor position.

Minimum Age: 18

 

This position also requires an Assistant Team Lead.
As an assistant team lead you will preform all duties of the Merchandise Crew role and cover the team lead position if necessary.

Task: Leading a team to ensure the smooth operation of the pumpkin store. Ensure that the store is well-staffed, and schedules are being followed, delegate tasks and motivate the team to deliver excellent customer service. Responsible for cashing out the sales daily, restocking the store, and maintaining a clean store environment

Skills/Requirements: Leadership and motivational role, Friendly & outgoing, experience handling cash, credit, and debit transactions (Square experience is an asset). Sales experience is required.

Minimum Age: 18

Task: Oversee pathway patrol team, and ensure all positions are covered, and schedules are being followed. Work in tandem with the second team lead, show manager, and onsite security to monitor all aspects of the pathway including addressing safety concerns, the flow of guests, and maintaining special effects such as fog machines, lighting, and music. Assist with opening and closing procedures of the pathway.

Skills/Requirements: Strong leadership and communication skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities. Able to remain calm and act quickly in case of an emergency or safety concern. Comfortable working in an outdoor environment, with proper attire for any weather condition. Ability to stand or walk for extended periods. First aid training is an asset.

Minimum Age: 18

 

This position also requires an Assistant Team Lead.
As an assistant team lead you will preform all duties of the Pathway Patrol role and cover the team lead position if necessary.

Volunteer Registration

Thank you for your interest in Pumpkins After Dark! We will reach out to interested volunteers July 2023.

When I Work

Pumpkins After Dark now uses a program called “When I Work” for all schedules.

When I Work help videos and information:

When I Work Questions?

hiring@lanternevents.ca

Hiring Questions?

hiring@lanternevents.ca