Fort Collins Celebrates Annual Pumpkins on Parade

The Gardens on Spring Creek hosts a four-day seasonal harvest festival featuring local artist installations.

Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Seasonal Events

Screen-print poster illustration featuring carved pumpkin totems arranged in a public botanical garden, evoking a warm autumnal harvest theme. — The Gardens on Spring Creek hosted its annual harvest festival in Fort Collins, showcasing artist-designed displays and seasonal activities for local families. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do local seasonal events like harvest festivals significantly strengthen community connections in your area?

The Gardens on Spring Creek recently hosted its annual Pumpkins on Parade, a four-day celebration of the autumn harvest in Fort Collins. The event showcased unique pumpkin art and family-friendly activities designed to shift focus toward a seasonal theme.

Why it matters

Organizers shifted the festival away from traditional spooky Halloween themes to create a more inclusive harvest-focused experience. This change aims to broaden the event audience and better highlight the seasonal beauty of the garden.

The festival spanned 4 days of programming, marking a sustained engagement period for the harvest event. Organizers incorporated a variety of artistic materials including XPS insulation foam, wood, and 3D-printed components to construct the displays.

The players

The Gardens on Spring Creek

This public botanical garden serves as a community hub for horticultural education and seasonal celebrations in Fort Collins.

Rita Jokerst

She is an organizer who has been professionally involved with the development and management of the festival since 2020.

The details

Local artists collaborated with event organizers by pitching and installing thematic displays, such as a castle facade and pumpkin totems, alongside the garden's own plants. Visitors enjoyed a variety of entertainment including a DJ, a magician, dancing, and classic carnival games.

Rita Jokerst began her work with the event in 2020.
The festival took place from October 22 through October 25, 2026.

Industry Dynamics

The event aligns with a broader trend in seasonal entertainment where institutions shift from narrow-focus holiday branding toward broader seasonal community programming. By moving away from purely spooky themes, the festival positions itself as a long-term, inclusive staple for regional tourism.

The event provides a family-friendly space for residents to engage with local artists and garden displays during the fall season. Attendees can expect a diverse range of activities that accommodate varying age groups beyond traditional holiday haunts.

The takeaway

Embracing a general harvest theme can make seasonal celebrations more accessible to a wider variety of community members. Visitors interested in supporting local artists may find similar opportunities to view public art installations during future garden programming.