A day-by-day guide to Regatta weekend.
Every October Tualatin does something nobody else does:it hollows out giant pumpkins,puts paddlers inside,and races them across Lake of the Commons. Here is how to make the most of the October 17-18 weekend,from the weigh-off to the trophy line.
The West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta is Tualatin's signature fall weekend,and often named among America's best fall festivals. For one glorious day,costumed competitors steer giant hollowed-out pumpkin boats across Lake at the Commons while crowds cheer from the lawn. Around it gathers a full weekend: a Friday-night-adjacent beer event,a 5K, pumpkin bowling and golf,food,vendors,and enough family fun to fill a whole weekend with the kids.
Everything centers on Lake at the Commons at 8325 SW Nyberg St,just a short drive from 22379 SW 107th Ave. Here is the weekend,daybyday.
Saturday, October 17
Pumpkins and Pints at Stickmen Brewing.
The weekend kicks off Saturday at Stickmen Brewing Co.'s Tualatin Beer Hall,where the Pacific Giant Vegetable Growers' Terminator Weigh-Off brings local growers out with giant pumpkins,tomatoes,and more,all competing for bragging rights. Wood-fired pizza and cold craft beer make it a festive warm-up,and kids love seeing pumpkins larger than life up close. Arrive early,let the littles gaze at the giants,and let someone else drive home.
Regatta Details Sunday, October 18
The big race day.
Race day runs 10 AM to4 PM at Lake at the Commons,and it is free to attend. Start with the Rotary 5K Regatta Run/Walk,hosted by the Tualatin Rotary,to warm up the morning. Then settle in for the pumpkin races,costume contests,pumpkin bowling,and pumpkin golf alongside food vendors,arts and crafts,and non-stop family activities. Bring a camp chair,a camera,and layers,and plan to stay all day.
Kids and families
The park fills with kid-friendly lines that every age can enjoy:the regatta races themselves,face painting and craft booths,and plenty of lawn space for picnic blankets anddodgeball games. It is a festival designed around families,not around spectators.
Food and vendors
Local food vendors line the paths,and arts-and-crafts booths offer everything from pumpkin-themed gifts to handmade fall decor. Fair food,fresh air,and football weather,and that is the flavor of the day.
Plan ahead
Parking fills fast,so carpool,or ride-share if you can. Arrive early for the best lawn spots,and bring cash for vendors who may not take cards. Check the city's Regatta page for race times,shuttle info,and the full entertainment schedule.
The Whole Season
Pumpkin season runs all month.
The Regatta weekend is the centerpiece,but October brims with pumpkin fun nearby. Lee Farms' Fall Harvest Festival runs September 21 through October 31 with hayrides,a corn maze,and a pumpkin patch,just minutes away. The Tualatin Library's Shrunken Regatta hands out free take-home mini-pumpkin decorating kits from September 24 through October 14(one per family,while supplies last,so little hands can get in on the act too). And the CTA Medallion Hunt sends families hunting a hidden bronze medallion around town through October 15,. Take your pick, or do them all.
Make It Your Weekend
See why Tualatin loves its pumpkins.
The Regatta weekend is Tualatin at its most joyful:,neighbors,strangers,and giant squash,all laughing by the lake. If you are thinking of making Tualatin home,this is the perfect weekend to come visit,see the community in action,and walk the neighborhood around 22379 SW 107th Ave after the cheers quiet down. Schedule a tour us be happy to show you around,
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