Pumpkins on Parade, presented by Ace Hardware, is our annual Halloween and harvest celebration—where glowing gourds and spooky fun light up the night! Join us at The Gardens October 23–26, 2025, for dazzling displays, festive fall activities, and family-friendly frights.
Explore our new whimsically themed zones, snap photos with larger-than-life pumpkin art, and enjoy seasonal games and nightly live entertainment along the way. With an earlier start time perfect for the youngest ghosts and goblins, families can experience the magic before bedtime, while night owls and dark-seeking bats can soak in the sparkle under the stars.
Whether you’re here for the pumpkins, the costumes, or the autumn vibes, Pumpkins on Parade is the ultimate fall tradition you won’t want to miss!
Ticket Prices (Members receive a 20% discount):
This is a timed-entry event. We recommend purchasing tickets in advance to ensure your preferred date and time.
Stunning Pumpkin Displays
See our gardens come to life with astonishing artistic pumpkin displays all across our grounds. Thank you to our talented pumpkin artists at Cool Hand Ice Pumpkin Carving for sharing their creativity and imagination with our community through this event.
Note: Displays change every year. Pictures do not reflect the current year's sculptures.
Nightly Live Entertainment + Games
Pumpkins on Parade is full of fun for the whole family! Each night features fun and festive kids games—like pumpkin bowling—with candy-free participation prizes and engaging live entertainment:
Tasty Food Options
Pumpkins on Parade will feature local food vendors offering tasty snacks:
Carved Pumpkin Contest
Join the Pumpkins on Parade creative fun and enter our annual Carved Pumpkin Contest! This all-ages competition is the perfect chance to share your imagination and skills—from funny faces to garden-themed designs. With lots of great prizes up for grabs, we can’t wait to see your pumpkin creations!
Learn more and register by checking out the Carving Contest Rules & Information tab below.
Ages & Entries
Anyone may enter (all ages welcome)
One pumpkin per person
Families may carve together, but entries are judged in the adult category if applicable
Guardians may assist children with safety only — design and detailed carving must be done by the child
Carving & Decorating Rules
Judging & Prizes
Age Groups: Youth (14 & under), Adult (15+)
Categories: Best Overall, Funniest, Best Garden-Themed, Most Original
Prizes: Gift cards to local nurseries and restaurants, locally-authored children’s books, and more
Drop-off Logistics
Drop-off: Thursday, Oct. 23 between 8:30 a.m. and noon at The Gardens on Spring Creek (2145 Centre Ave., Fort Collins)
Pick-up: Pumpkins and props will not be returned; all will be composted/disposed of after the event.
Winners
Judging will take place during the event on Thursday, Oct. 23
Winners announced on Instagram and Facebook by 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24
Attendance not required; winners will be contacted directly
Event Tickets & Discounts
Each carver receives 50% off one Pumpkins on Parade ticket
Families carving one pumpkin = one discounted ticket
Families carving multiple pumpkins = one discounted ticket per carver
Buy tickets at full price in advance; refund issued at drop-off (within 5–10 business days).
Registration
Seeking Giant Pumpkins
We are looking for giant pumpkins and gourds to display at our event! If you are a grower who is willing to donate to our display, you can receive a grower's fee plus fun perks like free event tickets and recognition. Learn more about donating with this printable PDF.
