I caught a glimpse of the Shelburne Pumpkin Regatta a few years ago, and I haven’t been able to forget about it since. There was something about the idea of a pumpkin regatta in a tiny coastal town in Nova Scotia that felt so uniquely fall!
So when I started planning a trip to Nova Scotia last year, I knew I wanted to finally see it for myself. I actually planned my entire fall trip around being in Shelburne for the Pumpkin Regatta.
Here’s what you can expect if you’re thinking about going to the Shelburne Pumpkin Regatta yourself.
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*Drone shots and photos of me taken by my dear friend, Lina Irwanto
Before we get into all the details, here’s a little look at what the Shelburne Pumpkin Regatta is actually like.
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to watch people race giant pumpkins across the water, this should give you a pretty good idea.
So, how do you even get to Shelburne? If you’re planning to visit the Pumpkin Regatta, I’d definitely recommend renting a car.
Shelburne is located along Nova Scotia’s South Shore, about 3 hours southwest of Halifax, making it an easy addition to a larger Nova Scotia road trip.
I usually check here first when I’m looking for a rental car because I can compare different companies and rates in one place.
If you’re coming to Shelburne for the Pumpkin Regatta, I can’t recommend The Cooper’s Inn enough. The location doesn’t get any better than this!
The Cooper’s Inn is a charming historic bed and breakfast right on Dock Street, and it’s less than a five-minute walk from the harbour where the Pumpkin Regatta takes place.
That meant we could park the car, walk to the festival, and not worry about finding parking or driving anywhere once we arrived.
If you’ve never heard of the Shelburne Pumpkin Regatta before, you’re probably wondering how exactly a pumpkin ends up in a boat race.
And yes, the pumpkins are exactly what you think they are, giant pumpkins that have been hollowed out and turned into boats.
Every fall, the small coastal town of Shelburne, Nova Scotia comes alive for the annual Nova Scotia Giant Pumpkin Festival & Regatta.
The highlight of the festival is the Pumpkin Regatta, where participants climb inside these enormous pumpkins and paddle them across the water in a race.
But the regatta is more than just the race.
Throughout the day, you’ll find giant pumpkin weigh-ins, pumpkin carving, local vendors, live entertainment, and other fall activities happening around Shelburne’s historic waterfront.
If you’re wondering what the Shelburne Pumpkin Regatta is actually like, I can tell you that it’s much more than just showing up to watch a pumpkin race.
The whole day has a really fun, small-town fall festival feel, with plenty happening around the waterfront before the pumpkins even hit the water.
And yes, this is a free event!
The first thing you’ll notice is just how massive some of these pumpkins are. The festival features a giant pumpkin weigh-in, and seeing these enormous pumpkins up close is an experience in itself.
And eventually, some of those pumpkins become the boats for the main event.
One of the things I didn’t expect to see at a pumpkin festival? Actual lumberjack competitions. During the festival, we watched lumberjacks compete in events like axe throwing and log rolling.
There was even racing on the water in these little dome-shaped boats, which was honestly just as entertaining to watch as the pumpkin race.
There was constantly something happening around the waterfront, so you definitely don’t need to show up five minutes before the Pumpkin Regatta and leave afterward.
You’ll also find food trucks and vendors set up around the festival, so you can grab something to eat while you’re walking around and watching the events
It was nice being able to grab food and then get right back to enjoying everything happening around the waterfront.
The actual Pumpkin Regatta happens toward the end of the day. Last year, the race started just before 3 p.m.
And one important tip: get to the waterfront early if you want a good view. It gets crowded as the race approaches.
We started making our way over to find a spot just after 2 p.m., which gave us plenty of time to find a good place along the waterfront before the crowds really filled in.
Once the pumpkins hit the water, you’ll see participants climb inside their enormous pumpkin boats and paddle their way across the harbour. It’s every bit as entertaining as it sounds.
This is one of those things I’d consider a bonus rather than something to count on.
After the race last year, the event organizers allowed attendees to line up for a chance to try rowing in one of the giant pumpkins themselves. Of course, there’s no guarantee this is offered all the time.
We left shortly after our turn, so I’m not sure how many attendees they ultimately let into the pumpkins, but I will say that the event organizers were incredibly kind, gracious, and welcoming throughout the whole experience.
After waiting years to finally experience the Shelburne Pumpkin Regatta, it’s hard to pick just a few favorite moments from the day!
Shelburne is such a small, charming coastal town, and the Pumpkin Regatta felt like a true community event rather than a huge, commercialized festival.
Standing along the waterfront and watching the pumpkins actually race across the harbour was such a fun sight. The type of cute setting you expect to find in a Hallmark movie!
I knew the Pumpkin Regatta itself was going to be fun, but I never expected that I’d actually get the chance to get inside one of the pumpkins myself. It was EPIC!!!!
If you’re planning a larger Nova Scotia fall road trip, the Pumpkin Regatta was actually one of the reasons I planned our trip when I did.
You can see how I fit Shelburne into the rest of our trip in my Nova Scotia Fall Road Trip itinerary!
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