fall activities

The Sullivan Express to PumpkinTown has officially become a fall tradition in our family. We’ve gone several times over the years, starting when my daughter was 2, and it remains one of my favorite Halloween outings for younger kids around Indianapolis. Part of the appeal is that PumpkinTown feels like a real fall outing without taking over the entire day. On our visits, the train ride leads to trick-or-treating, carnival games and plenty of room for kids to play, but the whole experience is small enough that it never feels like we need six hours to see everything. The Sullivan Express to PumpkinTown returns Sept. 25 through Oct. 30, 2026, with rides Thursday through Sunday. Tickets go on sale Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026 at 4 p.m. Why We Keep Going Back to PumpkinTown The first year we went, my daughter was just 2 years old. I wondered if it might be too spooky for her, but it wasn’t at all. She loved it. We’ve returned as the kids have gotten older, and even my 8-year-old nephew has had fun. Based on our visits, I’d put the sweet spot around ages 2–8. That’s not an official recommendation, just my parent take after bringing kids of different ages over several years. Toddlers and preschoolers can get excited about the train, decorations and trick-or-treating without having to walk through a huge festival. Early elementary kids get more out of the carnival games and other activities. Kids looking for actual haunted-house-level scares will probably find PumpkinTown pretty tame, which is exactly the point. Is the Sullivan Express to PumpkinTown Scary? Not in our experience. This is much more silly Halloween than scary Halloween. The train does travel through a few dark tunnels and darker areas on the way to PumpkinTown, but most have decorative lights and things to look at along the way. My daughter handled the ride well even when she was 2. For kids with sensory sensitivities, the train car itself can actually be the easier part because your compartment is limited to your own group. PumpkinTown can get much busier. We’ve encountered crowds once we arrive, and small lines can build for some of the activities. I wouldn’t consider the experience especially scary, but a child who has a hard time with crowds, waiting or darker spaces may do better with some warning about those parts ahead of time. Trick-or-treating door to door at PumpkinTown Riding the Sullivan Express to PumpkinTown The outing starts at Central Station at Allisonville Home & Garden by Sullivan in Fishers. Families climb aboard the little train and travel through the Enchanted Forest before arriving at PumpkinTown. The ride is short enough to hold the attention of younger kids, but there’s plenty to look at along the route. Once you reach PumpkinTown, everyone gets off to explore before taking another train back when they’re finished. We try to arrive at least five to 10 minutes before our ticket time. I wouldn’t cut it closer than that, especially on a busy weekend. There are plenty of things to look at while you’re waiting, so arriving a few minutes early has never felt like wasted time. Trick-or-Treating at PumpkinTown The trick-or-treating is one of the things that makes PumpkinTown different from a typical Halloween event. Kids don’t just walk past a table and grab a piece of candy. They get to knock on little decorated doors and wait to see who answers. Someone fun is waiting on the other side to hand out candy, so it feels like a miniature neighborhood built just for Halloween. Costumes are welcome, but they aren’t required. On our most recent visit, I’d estimate about half of the kids were dressed up. We happened to visit during one of those ridiculous 90-degree October days, so we made quite a few modifications to our costumes before heading out. Indiana fall weather does not care about your Halloween aesthetic. Carnival Games, Tokens and the Prize Booth The carnival games are another big part of PumpkinTown for our kids. On our previous visits, each child’s ticket included two game tokens, and additional tokens were available to purchase once we arrived. Kids use the tokens to play carnival-style games and earn tickets, then take those tickets to the prize booth to trade them in for the standard assortment of carnival prizes. If your kids get invested in the prize booth, expect requests for extra tokens. Ticket inclusions can change from year to year, so check what’s included before visiting this fall. The Straw Playground and Other PumpkinTown Activities The straw playground has always been one of those areas where our kids could easily spend longer than expected. It gives them somewhere to climb and burn off some energy between trick-or-treating and games. Past PumpkinTown visits have also included activities such as magic shows, pumpkin decorating and s’mores. On our previous visits, some activities were included while others cost extra, so check the current ticket details before you go. Related article: 10 Best Fall Train Rides in Indiana How Long Should You Plan for PumpkinTown? One of my favorite things about PumpkinTown is that it doesn’t need to take over your whole day. We usually plan on about one to two hours for the entire experience, including the train ride, trick-or-treating, games, playing, snacks and photos. That makes it especially manageable with younger kids. You can make an afternoon of it without reaching that point where everyone has been doing fall family fun for so long that nobody is actually having fun anymore. Our favorite tradition has been going on a Sunday afternoon. It’s enough of an outing to make the day feel special, but we’re generally home well before Sunday night starts feeling like Monday morning. Parking Can Get Crowded This is one part I’d plan for, especially if you have a popular October ticket time. The parking lot at Allisonville Home & Garden can get very crowded. On our visit last year, the lot was completely full and we had to find parking off-site nearby. I’d give yourself a little extra time rather than assuming you’ll pull in, immediately find a space and walk straight to the train. This matters even more because the trains operate on scheduled ticket times. Arriving five to 10 minutes early is a good goal, but on a busy Saturday in October, I’d add some extra parking time on top of that. Food and Drinks at PumpkinTown We rarely make it through PumpkinTown without getting something to eat. Our family favorite is the Sullivan’s pretzel, which has become part of the outing for us. On our visits, there has been a place to buy food and drinks near Central Station before boarding the train as well as another food and drink stop inside PumpkinTown. The kids always want an apple cider slushie. Adults aren’t left out. Beer, wine and other adult beverages have been available both before boarding and inside PumpkinTown. Last year there were also a few seasonal signature drinks to try. Menus and drink selections can change from year to year, so consider those our past-experience recommendations rather than a confirmed menu. Do You Need a Stroller or Wagon? We’ve never brought a stroller or wagon with us to PumpkinTown. The area itself is small enough that we haven’t felt like we needed one with walking-age kids. If we were bringing a baby or a younger sibling who wasn’t walking yet, that would be different. But for our family, skipping the extra equipment has made it easier to board the train and move through the activities. When Do PumpkinTown Tickets Sell Out? Tickets don’t necessarily disappear completely the first day they go on sale, but the best times can go quickly. If you’re trying to get a Saturday afternoon in October, I would be ready to book when tickets go on sale Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 4 p.m. After going several years, those prime weekend times are the ones I wouldn’t wait around to book. Is the Sullivan Express to PumpkinTown Worth It? The value depends a lot on how many people you’re bringing. On our previous visits, tickets were sold by the train car rather than per passenger, so the more people we brought, the better the value felt. We’ve found that six people is about the most we’d want in one train car, and even then it’s pretty tight. That setup has worked especially well when we go with cousins or extended family because one train car can cover several people rather than everyone needing an individual ticket. I’d wait for this season’s pricing before deciding exactly how the value compares, but filling more of the seats has made the cost easier to justify. Don’t Forget the Family Photo Before heading back, ask one of the conductors to take a family photo. We’ve done this on our visits, and it has turned into one of my favorite little PumpkinTown traditions. It takes about 30 seconds and gives you an actual picture with the whole family in it, since you’re usually the person behind the camera. Riding the Sullivan Express to PumpkinTown Why PumpkinTown Stays on Our Fall List There are bigger fall attractions around Indianapolis, but that’s part of why PumpkinTown works so well for our family. It’s small enough that younger kids can explore without everyone getting exhausted, but there’s enough going on that it still feels like a real fall outing. We started going when my daughter was 2 and have returned several times since. The train ride, trick-or-treating doors, carnival games, treats and straw playground have turned it into one of those fall traditions the kids know is coming. For families looking for a kid-friendly Halloween train ride near Indianapolis, especially with toddlers, preschoolers or younger elementary-age kids, the Sullivan Express to PumpkinTown is one I’d put near the top of the list. More Info: Sullivan Express to PumpkinTown Location: Allisonville Home & Garden by Sullivan, 11405 Allisonville Road, Fishers, IN 46038 2026 ticket sale: Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 4 p.m. 2026 dates and prices: Full details have not yet been released. Tickets and event information: Sullivan Express to PumpkinTown We’ll update this article with 2026 dates, prices and ticket inclusions as Sullivan releases additional information. Sullivan Express conductors at PumpkinTown

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