Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival

It’s that time year again. The summer is slowly drawing to a close, the leaves are starting to change colour - and what better way to celebrate the onset of autumn than by visiting a traditional festival? The Pumpkin Festival in Ludwigsburg promises a full day of fun for the whole family, with different events and activities for all ages.

Everything pumpkin 

Wander past some of the biggest pumpkins and squashes you’ve ever seen, gaze in awe at the beautiful pumpkin sculptures on display and try your hand at pumpkin carving - it’s all possible at the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival (Kürbisausstellung). 

Most of these gorgeous pumpkins are grown in the district of Ludwigsburg, with 20 percent of them grown by farmers in the region around Stuttgart, to ensure the freshest fruit. So you will also be able to sample pumpkin gourmet dishes, local specialities, pumpkin-spiced German beer and more at the festival!

A pumpkin-filled schedule

The pumpkin festival offers a full schedule of events, including pumpkin gastronomy, artistic carving including lanterns and sculptures, pumpkin variety shows, pumpkin weigh-offs and even a pumpkin slaughter event! This year's theme is Girl Power.

One popular event is the pumpkin regatta, on Saturday, September 21 and Sunday, September 22 2024, where brave and intrepid souls complete a canoeing competition in enormous, hollowed-out pumpkins!

There are also storytelling sessions, a little chamber of horrors to explore, games and more specially-designed activities to keep the little ones entertained.  Don't forget to visit the pumpkin shops before you leave though - souvenirs are always nice.

These events come to an end on Sunday, November 3 with the dramatically named pumpkin slaughter. This is when the giant pumpkins are cut open so the seeds can be harvested for next year's crop. After this, only the pumpkin sculptures remain to be admired as part of the Dream Trails event.

Dream Trails

From Saturday, October 26, the exhibition transforms into Dream Trails. As darkness starts to fall, from 3pm the pathways through the gardens and the pumpkins are lit, creating a magical effect. Walk a 1,5km path through a seemingly enchanted world of pumpkin statuary and be transported to another world.

Tickets for this are different to the regular entrance tickets and cost 14,50 euros for adults and 7 euros for children 4-14 years old.

Going to the Pumpkin Festival

Are you looking to grab a taste of pumpkin this autumn? The Pumpkin Festival is open from 9 am to 8:30 pm, seven days a week. Easily accessible by both car and public transport, the festival even lets you purchase your very own artistically carved pumpkin to take home!

For all the details on the full programme and to get your tickets, head on over to the official Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival website. 

Video credit: Youtube / GiantPumpkins NL