After being unceremoniously given the boot from Government House, pumpkin carver John Vickers is making a rather triumphant return to the Capital Region this weekend.

Billing his travelling show of 3D-style carvings on polyurethane gourds as the Pumpkin Art tour, Vickers brings his collection of more than 500 pieces to a darkened ballroom at the Bear Mountain Westin Resort starting today (Oct. 10) and running through Monday afternoon.

“Being away last year I was inundated with communications from people I didn’t know expressing disappointment the event didn’t happen,” said Vickers, who moved his 11th annual pumpkin festival to Nanaimo in 2007 after hosting the first nine in Victoria. “We’re excited to bring it back to town.”

The show, featuring themed scenes from Star Trek and Batman the Dark Knight to Dora the Explorer and Charlie Brown.

Vickers, a gentle giant of a man who manages a technology company during the day and does most of his carving on weekends, began showing his work in 1997.

For people reluctant to drive up the mountain, the Langford Trolley will be available to ferry people up and back from Millstream Road.

Partial proceeds from the shows will be donated to UNICEF’s Unite for Children and Unite Against AIDS campaigns. The admission is $5 for adults, $2 for children 12-under and $10 per family. For display times and other information, see to www.pumpkinart.ca.

ddescoteau@vicnews.com