Image: Harrison Pumpkin Festival / The Harrison Pumpkin Festival opens September 29 in Agassiz at 5039 Lougheed Highway.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Harrison Pumpkin Festival

Harrison Pumpkin Festival opens Friday, September 29 in Agassiz

Sep 12, 2023 | 11:30 AM

AGASSIZ — Fraser Valley residents are invited to celebrate the advent of cooler temperatures, shorter nights, and the arrival of fall by following the seasonal farm trail to Agassiz for the start of the Harrison Pumpkin Festival, home of the “all-you-can-carry” pumpkin patch.

The same farm family, now operating under the “Onos Farms” umbrella, that has for years produced beloved local flower fests will be wrapping up the inaugural Harrison Sunflower Festival on September 17. With the end of the sunflower festival comes new fall crops on the farm run by founder Kate Onos-Gilbert and her family, like pumpkins and other fall bounty.

Visitors to the Harrison Pumpkin Festival will find 22 different types of amazing pumpkins, including varieties in stunning shades of white, sage green, yellow and even bi-coloured ones. Adding texture to your colourful fall photos and carving activities are not just traditional smooth pumpkins, but dramatically ribbed and ridged ones. From cute half-pounders to classic carvers from 10 to 100 pounds, you’ll want to fill your trunk with many decorative options. Currently, there are several picture-perfect giant pumpkins (200 pounds or more) on site that are growing larger every day.

Image: Harrison Pumpkin Festival / The Harrison Pumpkin Festival opens September 29 in Agassiz.

Further, the farm has glorious flower displays of dahlias, zinnias and cosmos that should be in luxuriant bloom all season (weather permitting). The Farm Store will be full of cut flowers, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, plus tulip and daffodil bulbs (while supplies last). A food truck will be on site each day of the festival to feed your pumpkin-picking crew.

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Because the pumpkins are first-come, first-served, the rules have been “gamified” in fun and memorable ways. Prizes will include something to look forward to: coveted day passes to the Harrison Tulip Festival in spring 2024.

Image: Harrison Pumpkin Festival / The Harrison Pumpkin Festival opens September 29 in Agassiz.

The entry price gets you “all-you-can-carry” pumpkins, but you must be able to literally carry them in your arms—that is, without the use of a trolley, cart or other device! Pumpkins will also be available in the Farm Store for those who don’t relish the heavy lifting.

For creative spirits, a photo contest on Instagram will judge the most creative ways to heft as many of those all-you-can-carry pumpkins as possible. To enter, simply tag @harrisonsunflowerfest on Instagram and use the hashtag #OnosFarmsPumpkinContest in your post.

To add to the fun, and to create some friendly competition, there will be a pumpkin-weighing station near the store. Weigh and measure your picks and compete to see who snags the heaviest pumpkin load in any given category. Keep an eye on your standing in the stats at harrisonsunflowerfest.com/pumpkin-fest, where daily updates will be made to the leaderboard.

Entry is just $15 per person (ages 2 and under visit free), for all-you-can-carry pumpkins and unlimited photo opportunities around the pumpkin and flower fields. Tickets will be available for purchase online at harrisonsunflowerfest.com/pumpkin-fest.

The Harrison Pumpkin Festival opens on September 29, and runs Thursdays – Sundays through October 29, or while supplies last.

Hours are Thursday and Friday, 11am-5pm; Saturday and Sunday, 10am-5pm; Monday, Oct. 9 (Thanksgiving): 10am-3pm.

The Harrison Pumpkin Festival is located at 5039 Lougheed Highway. For more information, visit: harrisonsunflowerfest.com/pumpkin-fest.