SMOKY LAKE, Alta. - A new Canadian record was set at the Great White North Pumpkin Weigh-off and Fair in Smoky Lake on Saturday, with Don Crews from Lloydminster exhibiting his 2,537-pound whopper, hefted onto the weigh-off scale by forklift during a busy day.
Crowds also enjoyed entertainment all over town at the 32nd annual event. The winning pumpkin shattered the 2021 record of 2,006.5 lbs set in Woodridge, Ontario, but is still behind the world record of 2,703 lbs set last year in Italy.
Organizers of this year's fair saw nearly 10,000 people in the Town of Smoky Lake taking in the weigh off, visiting the two farmers' markets, attending the car show and shine, eating at nearly 20 food trucks, visiting the corn maze and supporting other artisans' markets around the Town.
Another highlight of the day was the pumpkin drop, which involves smashing a car with a pumpkin weighing over 600lbs.
Smoky Lake is located just off Highway 28, about 90 km northwest of the Town of St. Paul, and 100 km southwest of the Hamlet of Lac La Biche.