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Carve out some time to celebrate pumpkin season in Canada this fall

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Carve out some time to celebrate pumpkin season in Canada this fall

With inputs from Nada Halawi and Gautam Viswanathan

The sun is setting just that little bit earlier, the temperature’s getting just a little bit colder, and the warm sweaters and jackets are out of the closet. With fall in Canada traditionally associated with the harvest before the arrival of winter, it’s no surprise that pumpkins play a big role in welcoming the season. Across Canada, pumpkins are used in food, inspiring decorations, bringing together families, and being the centrepiece of one of Canada’s most iconic festivals. Here are five ways for you to celebrate pumpkin season in Canada.

Visit a pumpkin patch

Find a local farm near you to pick your pumpkins. It’s a fun family activity! It is best to purchase small to medium-sized pie pumpkins for cooking, as they have the best flavour and texture. Look for firm, smooth orange skin with no bruises or cracks. Pie pumpkins should also feel heavy for their size.

If you are picking a pumpkin for carving, look for a firm pumpkin with no soft spots or cracks. Make sure it has a well-rounded shape that will sit nicely for your Halloween display.

From Vancouver and Whitehorse in the west to Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Halifax and beyond in the east, there are loads of pumpkin patches across Canada, where during this time of the year, it is not uncommon to see plenty of families celebrate pumpkin season in Canada, and plenty more of the large, round, orange vegetables.

Carve a pumpkin to celebrate a Halloween tradition

Take a walk across your neighbourhood or drive around your city around this time of year, and you will spot plenty of carved pumpkins outside storefronts and people’s homes. Do not be alarmed by the grins carved into the pumpkins: carving pumpkins around Halloween is a very common way to celebrate pumpkin season in Canada.

Interested in carving pumpkins with your family? It’s an amazing bonding experience!

  • Use a small, serrated knife or pumpkin carving tool for better control and precision.
  • Start by cutting a circle around the stem to create a lid, scooping out the insides thoroughly to make carving easier.
  • Plan your design and consider using a template to guide your carving for a cleaner result.
  • Don’t forget to Rub petroleum jelly on the cut edges to seal in moisture and prevent drying. Happy carving!

Visit a nighttime Halloween fest replete with pumpkins

Halloween is a celebration that children across Canada and the US look forward to at this time of year. Traditionally associated with the night, many cities and towns hold nighttime Halloween fairs that are as striking as they are popular.

Witnessing hundreds of jack-o-lanterns at night, the lights within piercing through (and illuminating) the carved eyes and comically eerie smiles, does make for a memorable experience, and puts a rather unique spin on how to celebrate pumpkin season in Canada.

One of the most iconic Halloween fairs is Pumpkins After Dark, which is held across several cities in Canada, including Calgary, Edmonton, Burnaby, Milton, Ottawa, and Saskatoon, with Montreal also hosting the event in 2025. In fact, so popular is the event that it has now spread to other parts of the world: the US, Ireland, the UK, and Australia.

If you want to find out more about nighttime Halloween celebrations in your area, an online search is once again most helpful.

Also read: A campaign illustrating where Canada’s multicultural communities connect

Make and enjoy a warm bowl of pumpkin soup

Walk into your local coffee place, and you’re sure to find an advert for pumpkin spice lattes, while possibly enjoying a slice of pumpkin pie or pumpkin cake, or maybe even a fresh-baked pumpkin muffin. If you want something healthy and hearty to stave off the chill during this time of the year, however, then a steaming, piping-hot bowl of pumpkin soup is the answer.

Pumpkin soup is easy to make. Here’s a tried-and-tested recipe from one of our team members:

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups fresh pumpkin
  • One medium onion, chopped
  • Three big cloves of garlic
  • 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
  • A cup of heavy cream
  • 1 tsp ground ginger (or 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated)
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon(optional)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Olive oil for cooking

Instructions:

  • Drizzle the pumpkin, onions, and garlic with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and roast in the oven until soft.
  • Add the veggies to a pot and add broth, ginger, and cinnamon to the pot.
  • Stir to combine and bring to a simmer.
  • Once simmering, use an immersion blender to puree the soup until smooth. (If you don’t have an immersion blender, let the soup cool down just a bit and carefully transfer it in batches to a blender; then take it back to the heat to finish)
  • Add table cream and heat through. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
  • Eat with some sourdough bread. Bon appetit!

Consider getting pumpkin-themed decorations and clothing

It’s not uncommon to see stores near where you are advertising for pumpkin-themed decorations and rather unique-looking pumpkin-styled clothing. At this time of the year, seasonal clothing is not just about ways to celebrate pumpkin season in Canada but also provides you with plenty of fond memories that will last a lifetime, coming to the fore each time you pick up your pumpkin-themed sweater, take out your fall-themed tablecloth, or wear your Halloween-themed t-shirt. Do browse local stores and online shops to find merchandise that you’re sure to love. The art of browsing for them could be just as fun as buying them.

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