Is the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival Worth Visiting?
Wondering if the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival is worth visiting? Then you have come to the right place!
I don’t know about you, but to me, Fall is all about cool temperatures, colourful leaves, warm sweaters and pumpkins.
In fact, I love everything to do with pumpkins! From pumpkin decor to pumpkin dishes and treats, and of course, pumpkin spice lattes!
So when I heard that the largest pumpkin festival in the world took place in Ludwigsburg, Germany, I just knew that we had to experience it!
With pumpkins of every size and colour, pumpkin-themed food, and creative sculptures made entirely of pumpkins, you will see it all.
If you love a good fall festival, this one is definitely worth visiting!
Is the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival Worth Visiting?
Yes! The Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival, or Kürbisausstellung, is absolutely worth visiting.
With its awesome display of pumpkin sculptures, delicious food, and fun activities, all set against the backdrop of the Ludwigsburg Palace, it’s a great way to celebrate fall.
And trust me when I tell you, there is something for everyone at this festival.
Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival Pros and Cons – Quick Guide
If you are in a hurry, here’s a quick list of the pros and cons of visiting the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival:
Things We Liked
Things We Did Not Like
What is the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival?
The Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival is the world’s largest pumpkin festival, held each year at the Ludwigsburg Palace in Germany.
This family-friendly festival is home to over 450,000 pumpkins. You will find them in various shapes, sizes, and colours, creating jaw-dropping displays and sculptures throughout the palace grounds.
Each year, the festival has a new theme, making every visit a unique and unforgettable experience.
With plenty of pumpkin-themed activities, food, and fun, there is definitely something for everyone at the Kürbisausstellung.
🎃 Fun Fact: Every pumpkin at the festival was grown locally in either Stuttgart or Ludwigsburg.
When is The Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival?
The festival usually runs from late August to early November and is open daily.
Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival Dates
August 23 – November 3, 2024
Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival Hours
Festival Grounds Daily: 7:30 am – 8:30 pm
Vendors Daily: 10:30 am – 8:30 pm
Why is the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival Worth Visiting?
The Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival definitely offers a unique experience you won’t find anywhere else.
In fact, it’s one of the main reasons we chose to visit Ludwigsburg during one of our trips to Germany.
Here are some of the main reasons why we feel that this festival is definitely worth a visit:
1. To See the Incredible Pumpkin Sculptures
One of the main reasons to visit the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival is to see the incredible pumpkin sculptures.
These sculptures are massive and creative, featuring everything from animals to famous landmarks. Each year, the festival has a different theme (for 2024 the theme is Girl Power), so the sculptures change.
The detail in these sculptures is amazing. Artists use different types and colours of pumpkins to create realistic textures and shapes.
The sculptures are spread throughout the palace gardens, so you get to enjoy a stroll while discovering each one.
And if you are looking for that perfect photo for the ‘Gram, you won’t be disappointed. The sculptures are not something you will easily find anywhere else.
2. To Taste All the Delicious Pumpkin-Inspired Foods
If you are a foodie, then we recommend visiting the Pumpkin Festival on an empty stomach. The festival is home to so many delicious pumpkin-based dishes, that you won’t know where to start!
Food
You can try pumpkin soup, pumpkin pasta (Maultaschen), pumpkin fries, and even pumpkin ketchup!
For dessert, there are pumpkin cakes, pies, strudels and more. There’s definitely something for everyone, whether you like sweet or savoury.
The kid’s favourites were the Pumpkin Käse Spätzle and of course, the Pumpkin Ice Cream.
Drinks
My hubby was very quick to point out that there were NO Pumpkin Spice Lattes available!
This was a little disappointing, but I guess the Germans haven’t caught on to this North American obsession yet!
While there weren’t any lattes to try, there was pumpkin beer and pumpkin prosecco!
And since we are always game for trying new foods, especially at a fair or festival, John and I couldn’t pass up trying the beer!
It has a nice spicey flavour. Truthfully, it tastes more like a regular German beer, and not very much like pumpkin!
Soup
But one thing I would definitely recommend trying while at the Pumpkin Festival is the soup. And it’s not just any pumpkin soup, it’s Germany’s Largest Pumpkin Soup!
Traditionally held on the last weekend in September, the making (and eating) of the Largest Pumpkin Soup is a much-anticipated event.
Chefs prepare 555 litres of pumpkin soup in a GIANT pot, yielding approximately 2000 servings. The best part is, half the proceeds go to charity.
At around € 1.00 per bowl, it’s a great way to warm your belly while helping out a great cause.
3. To Take Part in Some Pretty Unique Pumpkin-Themed Events
You will find some truly unique events at the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival that you won’t find anywhere else. Trust me!
Pumpkin Boat Races
One of the most popular events of the festival, and my fave, is the Pumpkin Regata.
Here, visitors to the festival carve out giant pumpkins and paddle them across the palace lake. It’s pretty hilarious to watch and even more fun if you join in!
And the best part is, it’s open to anyone who wants to register! (We were not that adventurous!)
Pumpkin Weigh-Off
Another popular, albeit less entertaining, event is the pumpkin weigh-off.
Farmers from all over the Baden-Württemberg area bring their biggest pumpkins to the competition. It’s crazy, but some of these pumpkins weigh well over a thousand pounds!
It was truly incredible to see just how jaw-droppingly large these pumpkins were! My suggestion – don’t forget to snap a selfie with the winner!
🎃 Fun Fact: In 2016, the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival was home to the largest pumpkin in the WORLD. Weighing in at a whopping 1190.5 kilograms, the ginormous gourd belonging to Mathias Willemijns from Belgium, beat out competitors from Europe, Canada and the US.
Pumpkin Carving Contest
Next, you will definitely want to participate in the pumpkin carving contests. It’s one of the most popular attractions at the festival.
While the tent for pumpkin carving is open throughout the festival, around mid-October is when it gets the busiest.
So if you are heading to the festival closer to Halloween, our advice is to head to the pumpkin carving area early in the day, or later in the evening to avoid the crowds.
And don’t forget to register your finished pumpkin carving for the daily contest!
The best three pumpkins chosen in each age category get a ribbon, and of course, bragging rights!
Had we timed our visit a little better, John would have been all over this competition. He’s got some pretty mad skills for an amateur!
The Pumpkin Smash
And last but not least, is the Pumpkin Smash!
Yup, you read that correctly!
If you are lucky enough to be visiting the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival on its last day, you will be able to take part in their annual Pumpkin Smash.
It’s all the fun of smashing a pumpkin, without having to clean up the mess (or get in trouble for it) afterwards.
I’m truly sorry that we missed it!
4. To shop for Some Unique and Local Treasures
If you love shopping for unique items, the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival has got you covered.
There’s a market filled with local vendors selling all kinds of pumpkin-themed products, trinkets and treasures.
You can find pumpkin seed oil, pumpkin jams, pumpkin pasta, and even pumpkin cider. It’s a great place to pick up gifts or try something new.
Beyond pumpkin products, there are handmade crafts, local wines, and artisanal foods.
And don’t forget to pick out a pumpkin to take home! There are tons of pumpkins in all shapes, sizes, and even colours to choose from.
Whether you’re looking for a small pumpkin to decorate your home or a larger one for carving, we can guarantee that you will find it at the festival.
All in all, we found some pretty great souvenirs to bring home from the festival.
Not only was it a lot of fun browsing through the stalls, it was also a great way to support local businesses.
5. See the Baroque Gardens in a Unique Way
If you have never been to the Baroque Gardens (Blühendes Barock) in Ludwigsburg, the Pumpkin Festival is the perfect time to explore them.
You will definitely be seeing them from a different perspective than during the rest of the year!
If you have younger kids with you, then I would recommend heading straight to the Fairytale Garden (Märchengarten).
This is where you will find a garden filled with scenes from classic German fairy tales.
You can even hop on board a child-size train and ride through the village, or take a boat ride through Grimm’s Fairy Tales.
It’s pretty cute, and a great place to take some Instagram-worthy photos.
In addition to the Fairytale Gardens, kids can also enjoy a fantastic playground with swings and a carousel.
There’s also a small petting zoo within the gardens. It’s a perfect spot for parents to take a break and for the kids to enjoy interacting with some friendly animals.
Lastly, Halloween is the perfect excuse to walk through the Blühendes Barock gardens after dark and experience the pumpkin exhibits all lit up.
With a variety of light installations, fog effects, laser tunnels and sound collages, the Illuminated Dream Path is an awesome experience for the whole family.
This Illuminated Dream Path is approximately 1.5 km (1 mile) long and makes its way through the pumpkin exhibition and historic vineyard. The path opens when it gets dark and closes daily at 9.30 pm.
The Illuminated Dream Path opens when it gets dark and closes daily at 9.30 pm. You can experience this awesome attraction from the end of October until the end of November.
How Much Time Do You Need at The Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival?
You’ll need at least half a day to enjoy the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival.
This gives you enough time to explore the pumpkin displays, watch any scheduled events like the boat races or pumpkin weigh-off, and try some of the pumpkin-themed food.
If you want to take your time with everything, plan for a full day to experience everything that the festival has to offer.
Is the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival Free?
No, the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival is not free.
There is an entrance fee to access the festival since it takes place on the grounds of the Ludwigsburg Palace.
The ticket price includes access to the festival area, the pumpkin displays, the Ludwigsburg Palace Gardens, and some of the other festival activities.
Keep in mind, your admission doesn’t include entry to the palace itself.
How Do You Get to the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival
Depending on where you are coming from, you have several options for getting to the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival.
By Plane
The closest airport is Stuttgart Airport (STR), about 40 km away.
From the airport, you can take a direct S-Bahn train to Stuttgart Central Station (Hauptbahnhof) and then switch to a regional train to Ludwigsburg.
The whole trip takes around an hour.
By Train
Ludwigsburg is well-connected by train.
Regional trains run frequently from Stuttgart Central Station, and the journey takes about 15 minutes.
You can also catch direct trains from other major German cities like Frankfurt or Munich, but be sure to check schedules in advance.
By Car
Driving to Ludwigsburg is probably the easiest and fastest way to get to the Pumpkin Festival.
Ludwigsburg is easily accessible via the A81 motorway. Here are some approximate driving times from the closest major cities:
- Stuttgart to Ludwigsburg: 16.7 km or 27 minutes
- Heidelberg to Ludwigsburg: 104 km or 1 hour and 6 minutes
- Nuremberg to Ludwigsburg: 195 km or 2 hours and 4 minutes
- Frankfurt to Ludwigsburg: 198 km or 2 hours and 11 minutes
- Munich to Ludwigsburg: 248 km or 2 hours and 46 minutes
By Public Transit
Germany has a world-class public transportation system.
During our family vacations in Stuttgart, we rarely rented a car, instead preferring to hop on the train or bus to get to our destinations.
Depending on where you are starting from, you should not have much of an issue finding an easy route that will likely take you through Stuttgart, and then on to Ludwigsburg.
From Stuttgart, you can take the S-Bahn (S4 or S5 lines) to Ludwigsburg.
Once you arrive at Ludwigsburg station, it’s a 15-minute walk to the festival.
Local buses also run from the station directly to the palace grounds.
Is There Parking at the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival?
Yes, parking is available at the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival.
Several parking lots are located near the Ludwigsburg Palace grounds, where the festival takes place.
Just keep in mind that not only will these lots fill up quickly (especially on weekends), but the actual Ludwigsburg Parkplatz can also be on the expensive side.
If you are looking for more budget-friendly options, have a look at nearby garages or lots, as these are often more affordable than on-site parking.
Look out for the “Blue Parking Garage” or “ParkPlatz” signs along the roads.
Our best advice is to arrive early to secure a good spot.
Where to Stay Near the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival
If you are looking to stay in Ludwigsburg while visiting the Pumpkin Festival, you have plenty of options. There are great hotels available nearby, that can accommodate any budget.
Luxury Hotels
Schlosshotel Monrepos
This hotel has comfortable rooms, a golf course, a winery, horse stables, and a lake, making it a top choice for families looking for comfort and lots of amenities.
Nestor Hotel Ludwigsburg
Close to Ludwigsburg Palace, this hotel combines historic charm with modern features, suitable for families who appreciate the convenience and a touch of history.
Moderate Hotels
Best Western Hotel Favorit
Located in a quiet area, this hotel is a short walk from the train station and offers good value with all the necessary facilities for a comfortable stay.
HARBR. Hotel Ludwigsburg
This modern hotel with comfortable, stylish rooms, is located close to the city center and Ludwigsburg Palace and is known for its friendly service.
Budget Hotels
Ibis Budget Ludwigsburg
Right by the train station and close to public transport, this hotel offers basic, clean rooms at a low cost.
Boutique-Hotel Kronenstuben
This hotel offers a unique stay with individually decorated rooms and is situated right in the heart of Ludwigsburg near the market square.
Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival – FAQs
Ludwigsburg is known for its incredible Baroque palace. It is also known for hosting the Ludwigsburg Kürbisfest, the largest pumpkin festival in the world.
From August to December, the Residential Palace’s Blühendes Barock gardens are home to the world’s largest pumpkin exhibition (Ludwigsburg Kürbisfest).
You can pay with both cash and credit cards at the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival, but some smaller vendors may only accept cash, so it’s a good idea to have some on hand.
Yes. Dogs are allowed in the Blühendes Barock but are not allowed inside Schloss Ludwigsburg. Dogs must also be on a leash at all times.
Yes, the festival grounds and Ludwigsburg Palace have accessible entrances, paths, and restrooms for visitors with disabilities.
Yes, guided tours of the palace and gardens are available, and some may include special access to festival highlights. Check the website for details.
Yes, there are several restroom facilities located throughout the festival grounds, including accessible restrooms.
Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival – Final Thoughts
So, is the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival worth visiting?
If you are looking for a unique fall experience while visiting Germany, then YES! The Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival should definitely be a part of your itinerary.
With a ton of different things to see and do (and taste!), we absolutely think that the Pumpkin Festival will not disappoint!
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