Sotheby’s Big Blue in Shelburne’s Giant Pumpkin Regatta

Autumn has always been my favourite time of year. As the summer season begins to fade, the beauty of autumn slowly starts to reveal herself creating a kaleidoscope of warm hues that somehow settle my soul and make me feel homey, content and at peace.

Traditions are part of this inner peace and pumpkins have always been front and centre. Usually it was in the form of pie for thanksgiving dinner and carving jack o’ lanterns, but since moving to Nova Scotia I now see pumpkins in an entirely new light. A giant new light!

Shelburne Nova Scotia is host to the Giant Pumpkin Regatta, and this year was the year of Sotheby’s Big Blue. Big Blue with the golden pedunkle, fearlessly captained by Adam Bisonette. I was going to paddle Big Blue, but after a quick paddle in the bay it became clear that pumpkin paddling should be considered an extreme sport. I wisely stayed shoreside, in hipwaders, balancing pumpkins while the fearless competitors boarded their gourds and got their sea legs underneath them.

It takes a team to create an event like this and Val and Robin at the Municipality of the District of Shelburne did an outstanding job leading the events committee to steer this event. Carving a giant pumpkin is also a huge undertaking and I would not have been able to do this without the help of my dear friend and Sotheby’s colleague, Joanne Logan, who brought her enthusiasm, artistic eye and genius carving skills to the game. Thank you Jo.

I hope that all of you enjoyed Thanksgiving with your friends and loved ones, and should you wish to paddle a giant pumpkin, I’ll see you in Shelburne next year.