Giant Pumpkin Smash: What to See & Do at the Great White North Pumpkin Fair in Smoky Lake

2025 marks the 35th year of Smoky Lake’s Great White North Pumpkin Fair & Weigh-off!

Smoky Lake Great White North Pumpkin Weigh-off & Fair

Explore the town of Smoky Lake and get to know the age-old town traditions and the newer aspects of the fair. The pumpkins were always, and continue to be, the stars of the fair, and you’ll get to see some of the biggest pumpkins in Alberta at the weigh-off.

But as the Pumpkin Fair gets larger and larger every year, there is more and more to do around town for the weekend before Thanksgiving. Arrive early to find parking, and you’ll be able to visit most sites on foot while also seeing the town under all the fall colours.

Food is a major part of the festival, almost as much as pumpkins! There are dining events and casual opportunities for picnics and trying the food trucks. But beyond the pumpkins, the food, and the pumpkin-infused food, the Great White North Pumpkin Fair is a 3-day event which offers kids’ activities, rides, shopping, and entertainment.

Here are some of the highlights:

Pumpkins all Day

Mack Male/Flickr

Start your weekend with a walk through the town’s Pumpkin Park (home to Smoky Lake Pumpkins, a famous roadside attraction), beside the CN Rail Museum and make your way to the Pumpkin Fair to find a number of food items made from-you guessed it-pumpkins!

You can also shop with local creators and the market to find a number of fun festival-themed souvenirs or try your luck at winning a free pumpkin pie.

The giant pumpkin weigh-off will take place on Saturday.

Towards the end of the day on Saturday at around 5:30 p.m., have a smashing good time watching giant pumpkins lifted using a crane to about 200 ft high and dropped onto a car positioned below at the large field along Harvest Gold Drive (Parking Area Near the car wash).

Smoky Lake Corn Maze

Smoky Lake’s Corn Maze, put on by the local Kinnette Club, offers extended hours for the Pumpkin Fair. The maze will also have food vendors so you can fuel up before making/finding your way through the field.

When: October 4 & 5, 2025

How much: $5

Where: Across from the George McDougall Hospital

Town-wide Entertainment

There are many chances around Smoky Lake to get in the fall and Thanksgiving mood, and the festival keeps this theme going with a ton of entertainment for all ages, including a Ukrainian-themed showcase on Saturday.

Catch live musical acts, threshing demonstrations at the Smoky Lake Museum, the Kids Play Pavilion, and the thrills on the midway.

Iron Cruisers Show & Shine will feature cars and trucks from all over Alberta on Saturday.

Markets and more!

All of Smoky Lake’s local businesses get involved and excited for the annual pumpkin fair and offer their own unique reasons to visit.

Located at Nutrien Ag Centre and available throughout the three-day festivity, a diverse ensemble of artisans showcases their crafts, embracing varying forms like fine art photography, leatherwork, and sweet treats.

The center, especially on Saturday, invites more vendors into its folds, offering everything from scrumptious baked goods to whimsical crafts. Explore, connect, and support local talents, as you weave through a mosaic of stalls, each presenting unique, crafted treasures and culinary delights.

In addition, visit the CN Rail Museum and hike a section of the Iron Horse Trail.

Indulge in a gastronomic journey at the Smoky Lake Pumpkin Fair with an array of food trucks serving a diverse palate of delights from Friday through Sunday.

Autumn experience

The Metis Crossing Cultural Heritage Gathering Centre is a short drive from Smoky Lake, and provides the perfect way to end your day at the festival.

As part of the Smoky Lake Great White North Pumpkin Fair, Métis Crossing hosts a fall gathering with a noon BBQ lunch at the Cultural Gathering Centre. Families can enjoy hands-on activities, cultural traditions, and the beauty of the autumn landscape.

When:

Sunday, October 5, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

How much:

Adults (13+): $30.00 per person + tax
Youth (6–12) & Seniors: $20.00 per person + tax
Children under 5: Free

Where: Metis Crossing Cultural Heritage Gathering Centre – 17339 Victoria Trail, Smoky Lake

Trip Planning – Great White North Pumpkin Fair & Weigh-off

Get to Smoky Lake on Thanksgiving Weekend. The growers of Alberta and surrounding provinces bring their pumpkins, squash and gourds to participate in the Smoky Lake Great White North Pumpkin Fair and weigh-off.

There will be carnival rides by Wildrose Shows, a corn maze, food trucks, a vendor market, Iron Cruisers Show and Shine and more!

When: October 3 to 5, 2025.

Friday, October 3, 2025

4 PM – 10 PM: Pumpkin Fair Kickoff @ Nutrien Ag Centre
4 PM – Evening: Midway
4 PM – 10 PM: Beer Gardens + Food Truck Court
4 PM – 8 PM: Pumpkin Showcase Artisan Market @ Nutrien Ag Centre
All Day: Corn Maze

Saturday, October 4, 2025

8 AM to 6 PM: Bus Service
8 AM – 10:30 AM:Kinette Pancake Breakfast @ Lions Den
9 AM to 3 PM: Show ’n Shine
10 AM – Evening: Midway
10 AM – 4 PM: Wagon Rides @ Museum
10 AM – 5 PM: Corn Maze
10 AM – 5 PM: Live Pumpkin Carver@ Nutrien Ag Centre
10 AM – 5:30 PM: Pumpkin Showcase Artisan Market @ Nutrien Ag Centre
10 AM – 5 PM: Farmer’s Market @ School & Pavilion
10 AM – 10 PM: Food Truck Court + Beer Gardens@ Nutrien Ag Centr
10 AM – 4 PM: Ukrainian Showcase @ National Hall
11 AM – 5 PM: Perogy + Sausage Plates and Beer Gardens @ Curling Rink
12 PM – 4 PM: Pumpkin Weigh-Off, Auction to follow weigh-off @ Nutrien Ag Centre
2 PM – 7 PM: Wine Tasting @ Gofer Liquor
5:30 PM: Pumpkin Drop@ Start near the Car Wash

Sunday, October 5, 2025

11 AM Registration
12 PM: Annual Smoky Lake Pumpkin Classic, Followed by Turkey Dinner @ Smoky Lake Golf Course
10 AM – 3 PM: At the Cultural Centre & Activities for the Family, BBQ Lunch @ Metis Crossing

Where: Agricultural Complex 4612 54 Ave., and other venues, Smoky Lake, Alberta