Here in Canada, it is a time-honoured tradition. In October there are two dates that are celebrated in a big way, the second Monday in October, this year falling on Monday the 14th, when we gather as a family for Thanksgiving Dinner. And on October 31, when the night is tinged with magic and witches dance, the celebration of Halloween. In both celebrations, the pumpkin is the queen of the season.
I am glad to read, that you have given a vote of approval to the event on that farm and that despite the cold, you had a wonderful time. Logically, better than the mechanical games you refer to.
I love the photos where you can see little Smallsteps, delighted with her stay.
Halloween has never really been a thing outside of the US, but I guess popular culture just drives anything that can be commercialized. I used to prefer the Easter tradition in Finland, where the week before kids would dress up as cute country witches. Now though, they are dressing as superheroes and the like and it is about the candy, and even expecting cash - it has been ruined in a decade or two.