Harvest Pumpkin Festival 2026

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.

Vote now

2026 festival schedule

Friday, October 2

• Harvest Pumpkin Festival begins.
• Scarecrows on the Street Trail begins.
• Silverwinds Flute Ensemble — 7:00 PM at Zion United Church. The Harvest Dinner is sold out, but everyone is welcome to attend the free concert at 7:00 PM.

Saturday, October 3

• KG Woodcraft — Woodcarving Demonstrations with Kamron Garbe, approximately 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Location TBA.
• Live Music with Stef — 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Location TBA.

Sunday, October 4

• Jennifer Blake Block Printing Workshop — 1:00 to 3:00 PM at Armstrong Odd Fellows Hall. Free; registration required. Bring a plain, pre-washed T-shirt or squares of cotton material.

Monday, October 5

• Fall Sourdough Pancake and Waffle Workshop with Okanagan Cliffs Sourdoughs — 6:00 to 7:30 PM at Armstrong Odd Fellows Hall. Free; registration required.

Tuesday, October 6

• Free Introduction to Line Dancing — 10:00 AM at Zion United Church. Free drop-in activity; no pre-registration required.
• Hands-On Blacksmithing with Michael Lobsiger of Iron and Hammer Forge — 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at Armstrong Odd Fellows Hall. Free; pre-registration required.
• Livin’ On Strings at Village Dairy — 3:00 PM. Free.
• Fall Watercolour Workshop with Lisa — 7:00 to 9:00 PM in the PV Blvd Coffee “B” Room. Supplies are available for up to 15 participants. Free; pre-registration required.

Wednesday, October 7

• Fall Origami for Kids with Nanae at Armstrong Odd Fellows Hall. Doors open at 4:00 PM, with instruction from approximately 4:30 to 6:00 PM. For ages 5 to 10; maximum 15 children. Free; pre-registration required.

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. Thirteen 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

1. Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce — 3005 Wood Avenue
2. Lordco Auto Parts — 2860 Smith Drive, Units 5 & 6
3. Armstrong Preschool — 3260 Rosedale Avenue
4. Valley First Credit Union — 2575 Patterson Avenue
5. Rossworn Henderson LLP — 2535 Patterson Avenue
6. Royal LePage Downtown Realty — #2 – 3305 Smith Drive
7. CIBC — 2550 Pleasant Valley Boulevard
8. Armstrong Veterinary Clinic — 3125 Smith Drive
9. Quilting For You — 2905 Wood Avenue
10. Shepherd’s Outdoor Living Centre — 2410 Pleasant Valley Boulevard
11. Grandma’s Place — 3460 Okanagan Street (former Jonni & Lily’s location)
12. PV Blvd Coffee — 2510 Pleasant Valley Boulevard
13. Monashee Outdoors — 2595 Pleasant Valley Boulevard — double-sided scarecrow: One Eyed Willy / Howdy the Scarecrow

Stops 1–11 match the original map. PV Blvd Coffee and Monashee Outdoors are additional participating locations and are not shown on that map.

View and download the 2026 Scarecrow Trail map. Vote online for your favourite scarecrow.

View mapVote now

Rooted in community

Building on more than two decades of success, the Harvest Pumpkin Festival strengthens social connections, supports local artists and volunteers, and reinforces Armstrong’s identity as a welcoming, community-driven destination.

Whether attending for the first time or returning year after year, participants are invited to experience a festival rooted in collaboration, inclusivity, and fall spirit.

Fun for the whole family. Rooted in community. Full of fall spirit.

Festival supporters

Harvest Pumpkin Festival is proudly presented by the Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce.

We gratefully acknowledge the Government of Canada for funding support that helps make Harvest Pumpkin Festival programming possible.

Thank you to Askews Foods Armstrong, Armstrong Kin Club, and Armstrong Regional Cooperative for their community funding support.