More than 600 people took part in the 35th annual 'Run for the Pumpkin' in Lethbridge, Alberta, September 24, 2022. (Photo: CG/LNN)

By Cathy Gibson

Hundreds ‘Run for the Pumpkin’ in Lethbridge race

Sep 24, 2022 | 7:01 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Hundreds of people took part in the annual “Run for the Pumpkin” race at Nicholas Sheran Park in west Lethbridge on Saturday, September 24, 2022.

The 35th annual event started with just 60 runners back in the 1980’s, and it has grown to more than 600 participants over the years.

Organizer Ramona Stonehocker says participation dropped to about 300 during the pandemic, but this year the event jumped back to pre-pandemic levels. She says she is thrilled to see how far the race has come.

“I organized this race 35 years ago with Bertil Johansson, and we did it for the community and the college,” she says.

Stonehocker worked with Johansson at Lethbridge College, and she says they simply wanted to give kids of all abilities a fun opportunity to run, so they came up with the idea for ‘Run for the Pumpkin’.

Nighttime construction on Hwy 3 in Lethbridge starts April 17

Apr 17, 2025

SASHA launches #BuyABed fundraiser to support vulnerable Lethbridge residents

Apr 04, 2025

$20K grants available: TELUS STORYHIVE Pan-Asian Edition opens applications April 1

Mar 18, 2025

The race features a two kilometre course and a four kilometre course, and it includes the LCI High School Cross Country Team 4K Invitational race.

Each participant in Lethbridge’s ‘Run for the Pumpkin’ receives a pumpkin at the end of the race, September 24, 2022. (Photo: CG/LNN)

Stonehocker says it was always meant to be a fun, affordable race that the whole family can do together, and that is the way it remains today.

Both Stonehocker and Johansson have since retired from the college, but Stonehocker says the “Run for the Pumpkin” race continues on thanks to the overwhelming community support.

Full results from the 2022 race are available on the ‘Run for the Pumpkin’ website.

T-shirts from the past 35 years of ‘Run for the Pumpkin’ races hang over the 2022 event in Lethbridge, September 24, 2022. (Photo: CG/LNN)

Read more Lethbridge News Now.