Will They Float or Sink? Paddlers Climb Into Giant Pumpkins for a Hilarious Regatta

Every Thanksgiving weekend (in Canada), the Nova Scotia Giant Pumpkin Festival & Regatta transforms Shelburne’s Historic Waterfront into a spectacle of splashing, laughter, and giant gourds. The event draws huge crowds eager to watch paddlers climb into hollowed-out pumpkins and test their luck on the open water—whether they glide, wobble, or sink, it’s all part of the fun. Some participants even grow their own pumpkins to test out and race in the water!