Harvest Pumpkin Festival 2026

Description

Celebrating 26 years of fall fun In 2026, Armstrong’s Harvest Pumpkin Festival marks its 26th edition, continuing a long-standing tradition that brings residents and visitors together through creativity, culture, and community celebration. Held from October 2 to 12, 2026, the festival transforms downtown Armstrong into a vibrant autumn gathering place. Over ten days, the festival offers inclusive, family-friendly programming, including free workshops, live music, interactive activities, and a signature Family Day event, ensuring broad access for all ages and abilities. Workshop registration is now open. Use the registration button above to reserve a workshop spot. Additional partner activities will be added as details are confirmed. Thursday, October 8 Vernon Lapidary Rock Club — 2:00 to 6:00 PM. Drop-in demonstrations; all ages welcome. On Pleasant Valley Road inside the Rancho Vignola Building. Blu & Kelly at PV Blvd Coffee — 3:00 to 4:00 PM. Free. Hometown Famous at Farmstrong Cider — 4:00 to 7:30 PM. Friday, October 9 Harvest Beeswax Candle Holder Workshop with Bookish Collective — 2:00 to 4:00 PM at PV BLVD Coffee – B Room. Free; pre-registration required. Register online. Fall Canning Workshops with Maia at Armstrong Odd Fellows Hall — 2:00 to 4:00 PM and 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Each session is limited to 25 participants. Free; pre-registration required. Reading is Magic with Fizzban Wizard at Okanagan Regional Library — Armstrong Branch. Time TBA. Free. Saturday, October 10 — Family Day IPE Fairgrounds | Saturday, October 10 | 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM Free admission and free family activities. View the Harvest Pumpkin Festival Family Day event listing. The Armstrong Farmers Market gets the day started early from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM, in front of the Horticulture Building. Giant Pumpkin Weigh-In: entries from 9:00 to 11:00 AM; winner announced at 11:00 AM. Great Pumpkin Launch: trials at 12:00 PM; competition at 1:00 PM. Harvest Photo Op — 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM: bring your camera for fall photos, including photos with the giant pumpkins. Okanagan Science Centre: build and test mini catapults. Moo-Bile Dairy Classroom — 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM: milking demonstrations, crafts, a scavenger hunt, and more. KG Woodcraft with Kamron Garbe: live woodcarving demonstrations. Iron and Hammer Forge with Michael Lobsiger: live blacksmithing demonstrations. DragonFly Make & Take with Marilyn Bridge — 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM: in the Horticulture Building; one dragonfly per person. Quilting For You with Susan — Pumpkin Gnome Make & Take, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM: in the Horticulture Building. Homespun Haven with Sharon Eliason: Make-and-Take Felting Kits. Armstrong Preschool — Kids Fall Art Make & Take, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM: in the Horticulture Building. Girl Guides: cookies and a Kids Make-a-Treat activity. Wetlands Group: educational display and kids activity. Glad Tidings / Community Cares: Operation Christmas Child display and plate/mask decorating. Vision Overhead Doors: Guess the Weight of the Pumpkin, free drinks, and a fall display. Armstrong Legion — Pumpkin Cornhole, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Square Dancing with Will Cullen — 10:00 AM: behind the Horticulture Building, moving indoors if the weather requires it. Stef Be Tuned — 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM: roving entertainment and balloon twisting. Face Painting with Christine Turpin — 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Armstrong Spallumcheen Fire Department: check out the big fire truck. 1602 Designs: stop by for a visit. Happi Dani — Tea Tasting, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Thank you to the Armstrong Kin Club, proud sponsor of the Giant Pumpkin Weigh-In and Great Pumpkin Launch. Watch for their 50/50 too! Start at the HPF Welcome Booth Say hi to the Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce volunteers, make your guess in the Candy Guess, and fill out an entry for an HPF Door Prize. Come hungry Food and treats will be available from Armstrong Lions Club, Shabbang, PV Blvd Coffee, and Black Sheep Baking Company. Bring your family, friends, and camera for a day of fall fun! Sunday, October 11 Brandon Schmor at Farmstrong Cider — 4:00 to 7:30 PM. Piano, soulful vocals, and familiar classics spanning Blues, Jazz, Soul, Rock, and Ragtime. Monday, October 12 — Final Day Final day of the Harvest Pumpkin Festival and Scarecrows on the Street Trail. Final-day programming is coming soon / TBA. Great Pumpkin Launch Saturday, October 10, 2026 Armstrong Spallumcheen Fairgrounds Registration Deadline: Friday, October 2 Build a catapult, slingshot or trebuchet and send pumpkins flying toward the target. There are no restrictions on the design of your entry other than it must be people-powered. Adult Category Entry fee: $25 Pumpkins provided — approximately 5 lbs. Prizes: $250 Closest to the Target; $250 Greatest Distance; $50 gift certificate for Best Costumes Youth Category – 18 & Under Adult supervision required. Families, homeschoolers, youth groups, and Physics and Tech-Ed students are welcome! Entry fee: FREE Pumpkins provided — approximately 1 lb. Prizes: $150 Closest to the Target; $150 Greatest Distance; $100 Chamber Bucks for Best Costumes Event Schedule Trials begin at 12:00 PM, with each team receiving five pumpkins for trials. Competition launches begin at 1:00 PM, with each team receiving another five pumpkins for the contest. All teams must be registered in advance. The 2026 registration form will be added here when it is ready. BONUS: Every registered team will be entered to win a $50 Co-op Gas Card! Questions? Contact the Chamber at (250) 546-8155 or manager@aschamber.com. View the standalone Great Pumpkin Launch event listing. Scarecrows in the Street A signature feature of the festival is Scarecrows in the Street, a refreshed evolution of the long-running scarecrow program. Eleven participating businesses and community locations are displaying imaginative scarecrows throughout Armstrong. Business sign-ups are now closed. These installations animate public spaces, encourage walkability, support local businesses, and foster civic pride by turning streets into shared spaces of creativity and connection. Visit the Scarecrows on the Street 2026 page for the numbered map, business addresses, and voting information. 2026 participating locations Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce — 3005 Wood Avenue Lordco Auto Parts — 2860 Smith Drive, Units 5 & 6 Armstrong Preschool — 3260 Rosedale Avenue Valley First Credit Union — 2575 Patterson Avenue Rossworn Henderson LLP — 2535 Patterson Avenue Royal LePage Downtown Realty — #2 – 3305 Smith Drive CIBC — 2550 Pleasant Valley Boulevard Armstrong Veterinary Clinic — 3125 Smith Drive Quilting For You — 2905 Wood Avenue Shepherd’s Outdoor Living Centre — 2410 Pleasant Valley Boulevard Grandma’s Place — 3460 Okanagan Street (former Jonni & Lily’s location)