Pumpkins After Dark has returned to Calgary for its fourth year, promising over 10,000 hand-carved pumpkins and brand-new displays.
This year’s themes include Egyptian, Toy Story, rock and roll icons, including a tribute to the 27 Club, and more.
Event staff work year-round designing, carving and building displays, with a show taking approximately 11 months to create. Because of the time requirement for a show, much of the display is made using synthetic pumpkins created to mimic the texture and density of organic pumpkins.
Each pumpkin on display is hand-carved by a Canadian artist, and by using the low-density foam pumpkins, artists can design and build larger, more time-consuming displays without fear of rotting. Artists use the synthetic material for the large displays, while individual pumpkins are organic.
Organic pumpkins are used for the live pumpkin carving demonstrations.
The walk-through, immersive experience features flashing lights, fog machines and blacklights as well as music and sound effects.
Roaming performers, carnival games and a 3D monster maze add to the interactivity of the display.
The family-friendly event started as a passion project for the event owner and Chief Pumpkineer, James Fraser, and has since grown into Canada’s largest fall and Halloween festival, promising live entertainment and fall-themed food in addition to the displays and live pumpkin carving.
There are also pumpkins for sale for those who want to get creative with carving and set up their own displays at home.
Pumpkins After Dark hosts the Halloween-themed event in several other Canadian cities, including Edmonton, Burnaby, Milton, Ottawa and Saskatoon. The displays change each year in all cities, though there will be some repeats. Fraser’s commitment to visitors is that they will never see the same show twice in any of the participating cities.
Old displays that staff are able to preserve get sent to new locations.
Lantern Events, located in Calgary, works with Pumpkins After Dark Limited to put on the exhibitions, aiming to create nostalgic Halloween events that have a positive impact on the community.
Teams are currently working to open overseas exhibitions, with displays in Ireland, England and Australia set to open in 2025.