We loved the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival here in Germany so much, we went twice last year! I know it can be hard to navigate the German sites as someone who only speaks English, so I wanted to give as much detail as I could for anyone wanting to go. Let me know in the comments below if you have been or if it’s on your travel list!
Last year (2019) the pumpkin festival was Fairytale themed and my daughter who had just turned 3 loved it! This year (2020), the theme is music and I think it’s going to be a lot of fun.
This post is an extra long one because I didn’t want to miss anything. Make sure to bookmark, pin, or whatever your favorite method of saving future travel posts is because if you’re in the Stuttgart area in the fall, you won’t want to miss the pumpkin festival!
WHEN TO GO
This year (2020) the festival is open from August 28th-November 1st.
It is open starting at 9 am - 6 pm each day. Food is served from 10:30-5:30. You’ll want to check out the Pumpkin Festival website to see which days hold the events if you’re interested in attending those. We didn’t do any of the events because they are mostly held on Sundays and wanted to avoid the crowd. We talked to a man that worked there the other day and he said it was still up in the air which events they would be able to do this year.
The first day we went was a weekday, which was nice because it was less crowded (although still more than expected for a Thursday), but we also went on a Saturday and it wasn't bad at all. Food lines were a bit long and it was harder to find an open table to eat. But it was still doable and not too crazy with a 3 year old along for the ride.
If you have small children, I would avoid Sundays. I’ve heard it’s pure madness on Sundays and so many people you can barely walk.
LOCATION
Blühenden Barock
71640 Ludwigsburg
PRICE
10€ per adult for garden entrance only (where the pumpkin festival is held)
4.80€ children 4-15 garden entrance
You can find combination packages for families on the Blühendes Barock website.
WHAT TO BRING
Bring plenty of cash for all of the food and souvenirs available for purchase, along with your tickets. Both times we went there were also markets going on in the lots above where the parking garages are and we ended up getting a few things at those as well.
For your souvenirs, make sure you bring some reusable shopping bags to carry all of your goodies home.
Also, if you plan to purchase your pumpkin at the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival, make sure to bring your collapsable wagon or something similar to push it around. You don’t want to be stuck lugging it all the way back through the gardens and to your parking garage.
They didn’t have pumpkins for purchase the first time we went (September 5th), I believe those became available around the 14th. UPDATE 2020: They had pumpkins available for purchase, big and small, when we went September 6th this year. There weren’t as many as last year in October, so they should be getting more as it goes on!
WHAT TO BUY:
We purchased lots of Kürbis Secco (Pumpkin Prosecco…so good!), a “frog prince” figurine for Iris, and Pumpkin Soup Mix to send to family members. This year we’ve already picked up coffee mugs, a Halloween cookbook, pumpkin flour, and of course more Kürbis Secco.
Here are my top recommendations of what you don’t want to miss in the gift shop:
Kürbis Secco (can you tell yet that I love this fun drink?)…these would make great gifts, my Mom loved it as well.
Coffee Mug (I love the mugs this year with the pumpkin creations on them).
Halloween Cookbook (I don’t speak a lot of German, although I can read quite a bit now, but this book was too pretty and fun to pass up. I’ll have to translate a bunch, but I don’t care, I love it!)
Kürbiskernmehl (pumpkin flour)…I will be using this for alllll of my fall pumpkin baking.
FOOD
All of the pumpkin food was my favorite part of the festival. We sampled a bunch and I loved it all. Even Iris’ chicken nuggets the second time we went were so dang good.
Here is the rundown of all the food we tried and where to find it, those with an asterisk are my TOP choices…
In 2020, the wood food building straight in the middle when you are headed towards the food options has a few fried items to try. They have our favorite pumpkin food we had at the festival (hard to choose):
*Kürbis Bällchen (3rd photo)
In the building to the right we had:
*Pumpkin Quiche
Pumpkin Soup
*Kürbis Secco
If you’re headed towards all of the food and you head to the left and go to the cafe, we tried:
*Pumpkin Ravioli
Chicken Nuggets (for Iris)
To the right of the cafe is a little place to order coffee, I get the latte with soy milk and a little bit of hazelnut syrup. I recommend, if you want to drink your coffee while enjoying the festival, to ask for it in a to-go cup with a lid. It’s about 1.50€ extra, but it’s a plastic cup you can keep and reuse at home. I’ve been using mine to take my coffee in the car lately.
You can also rent a room to enjoy the pumpkin festival and pumpkin food at sunset from 7-11pm for 25 people for 300 euros. That’s only 12€ per person, plus food prices. I might have to see if I can get a group of gals together for next years festival!
WHAT TO EXPECT
Be ready to walk and have a stroller or wagon for children who can’t walk far. And come hungry! This is an event that is great for all ages, the pumpkin creations are truly impressive and so much fun to see each year. Music lovers will really enjoy the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival this year!
As for what to expect in 2020, you have to wear your mask to walk into the gate and pay, but once you are past that point you don’t have to wear one while you’re outside enjoying the pumpkin festival and gardens. Like I mentioned above, we were told they aren’t sure which events are going to happen this year, so I wouldn’t plan a trip around one of the special events. Go when works best for you! There’s so much to do and see without the extra stuff going on anyways.
If you have children, I highly recommend to keep walking past the pumpkins and let them ride the carousel before heading home. The kids obviously love it and then there’s a pretty walk through the gardens and trees on your way out.
PARKING
There are lots of parking garages near the palace, but be prepared to drive around a bit if you go on a weekend. We parked at two different garages, both on the same street as the palace, and then walked. If it’s your first time, just put the palace into your gps and then once you get close keep your eyes open for parking signs, they are easy to spot in Ludwigsburg.
Have you been to the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival or is it on your list? Let me know below and please tell me if there is a pumpkin food I missed! I hope if Germany in the fall is on your travel bucket list that you’ll make sure to add the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival to the itinerary. It was one of my favorite festivals we’ve been to so far!
♡ MALLORIE