Cochrane and Area Events Society (CAES) is bringing back a beloved autumn tradition with Pumpkin Glow, set to take place at Trunk or Treat on Saturday, October 25, at the SLS Centre.
The event will feature a display of carved pumpkins, allowing attendees to vote for their favourites and giving participants the chance to win prizes from local businesses.
“Pumpkin Glow is a fun activation that kind of plays off the nostalgia of the pumpkin walks that used to happen at the Ranche,” said CAES Events Coordinator Kailey Mitchell. “We’re going to set up a display right outside the front entrance of Spray Lakes, where people can line up, walk through it, and then head into the Trunk or Treat area in the parking lot.”
Anyone interested in entering a pumpkin can register through a Google form available on the CAES Facebook page and website, and drop off their pumpkin between 2 and 4 p.m. on the day of the event. Mitchell encouraged participants to get creative, noting the family-friendly focus of the display.
“We’re excited to see what people will come up with,” she said. “We’re also hoping local businesses will get involved.”
The Cochrane Pumpkin Lantern Festival was a yearly Halloween tradition at Cochrane Ranche, where pathways were illuminated by hundreds of jack-o-lanterns carved and submitted by community members. The event was cancelled during COVID-19 and has not returned since.
Mitchell added that the event is inspired by community nostalgia. “I’ve seen a lot of people online talking about the pumpkin events that used to happen, and we just thought maybe we could put on our version to pay homage to that tradition.”
Trunk or Treat goes at SLS Centre from 5-8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25.
Written by Lauren Meister Thursday, Oct 16 2025, 6:51 AM https://cochranenow.com/articles/pumpkin-glow-brings-a-fresh-twist-to-cochrane-pumpkin-lantern-festival