Nova Scotia Comes Alive in 2011!

Windsor Pumpkin Regatta – Oct. 11, 2009

Founded by, Danny Dill,  the son of world-champion, pumpkin grower, Howard Dill, the Windsor Pumpkin Regatta is the annual water race held on Lake Pesaquid in Windsor, Nova Scotia. The entire course is a half-mile, or 800 meters. Brightly-colored, giant pumpkins are powered by humans. In 2008 there were 60 entries and the event attracted 10,000 spectators.

The race was almost immortalized in 2005 when Martha Stewart was to attend. However, her permission to enter Canada was delayed because of her incarceration in an American prison. However, her pastel-colored pumpkin did make an appearance.

There are three (3) classes of entry but the paddling event is the most popular:

• Motorized
• Experimental
• Paddling

Since its inception in 1999 Leo Swinamer of New Ross, Nova Scotia won the race until 2008. He was 73 in 2007, the last time he won it.

Windsor was not the first to float a giant pumpkin race . In 1996 Wayne Hackney of Winchester, New Hampshire, was the first to paddle a pumpkin he grew. However, the Windsor Race has inspired two other pumpkin regattas:

• University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Lake Champlain in Colchester, Vermont.

For more information on times go to Windsor Pumpkin Regatta.