The Ultimate Guide to Visiting the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival 2025

The Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival, aka Kürbisausstellung Ludwigsburg, is an annual pumpkin event that draws visitors from all over the world. It takes place in the city of Ludwigsburg, Germany, and it is the largest pumpkin festival in the world. The festival takes place in the grounds of the Ludwigsburg Palace, which is one of the most stunning Baroque palaces in Europe. Here’s everything you need to know about planning and visiting the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival for 2025.

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Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival

The Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival, also known as Kürbisausstellung Ludwigsburg, began in 2000 as a modest exhibition showcasing various pumpkin varieties. Over the years, it has grown exponentially, now featuring over 400,000 pumpkins representing around 800 different varieties!

Each year, the festival adopts a unique theme, inspiring artists to create intricate pumpkin sculptures that captivate visitors of all ages. In 2022, the theme was rainforest and in 2023, fire.

For 2025, the theme will be “Theme Great Cinema.”

When & Where

The pumpkin festival runs annually from late August to early December in Ludwigsburg, Germany.

The 2025 pumpkin festival dates: August 23rd to December 7th.

Once the end of fall hits, the pumpkin festival closes earlier as the sun sets. Starting October 24th, the pumpkin displays illuminate at night, which extends until December 7th.

Opening Hours (Until November 5th):

• Exhibition: 9:00 am – 8:30 pm
• Gastronomy: 10:30 am – 5:00 pm
• Courtyard/Souvenir Shop: 10:30 am – 5:30 pm
• Pumpkin Sale: 10:30 am – 5:30 pm

Dream Paths Hours (October 24 – December 7):

• Exhibition: Nightfall until 9:30 pm
• Gastronomy:
  • Cafeteria at Rosengarten from 9:00 am
  • Exhibition gastronomy from 4:00 pm
• Hof-/Souvenirladen: 3:00 pm – 8:00 pm

The Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival takes place at the beautifully landscaped gardens of the Ludwigsburg Residential Palace (Residenzschloss Ludwigsburg). This location alone makes the event worth visiting—one of the largest Baroque palaces in Europe, the Ludwigsburg Palace is a stunning setting for such a vibrant and playful festival.

The lush gardens date back to the 18th century and are carefully maintained, offering a fairy-tale atmosphere perfect for both exploring and photographing.

Address: Blooming Baroque, 71640 Ludwigsburg | Google Maps

Traveling to Ludwigsburg

Ludwigsburg is located in the southwest of Germany, close to the city of Stuttgart. There are quite a few ways to get there by either plane, public transportation, or car depending on your origin.

If you’re from out of the country or the United States, the easiest way to get to there is by plane. You will fly into Stuttgart Airport. From there, you can take a train or a bus to Ludwigsburg.

Alternatively, if you are coming from other parts of Germany, you can take a regional train. When arriving to the Ludwigsburg station, it’s a short, pleasant walk to the palace gardens. Check out Deutsche Bahn for all trains in Germany.

For the military located in Germany, Ludwigsburg and the pumpkin festival can be the perfect day trip. The drive from the KMC is about 2 hours, Grafenwohr is about 3 hours, Wiesbaden is about 2 hour drive, and Stuttgart is a short 30 minute drive.

Parking

If you are planning to drive to the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival, there is ample parking available around the palace and city. However, I recommend arriving early to avoid the crowds and to secure a good parking spot.

We found parking here right near the Palace and paid for a few hours of parking. For some additional parking options, you can look into:

• Option 1 Parking
• Option 2 Parking
• Option 3 Parking

Purchasing Tickets

Tickets are needed to attend the pumpkin festival. A ticket for the festival is actually the cost of admission to the Palace Gardens. You can purchase tickets in advance here or when you arrive on site.

Your ticket gives you access to all gardens, the visit to the fairytale garden, and the “boat driving” in the fairy tale stream while visiting.

The 2025 admission prices:

• Adults: €13.00 Weekdays | €14.00 Weekends
• Children: €5.50 Weekdays | €6.00 Weekends
• Family Tickets: Range from €25.50 to €38.00 depending on family size

Events & Activities

There are numerous events that take place throughout the pumpkin festival. For more details on dates and times, please check out the website.

Events in September: The Pumpkin Variety Show, Pumpkin Regatta, Pumpkin Carving, Germany’s Largest Pumpkin Soup

Events in October: German Championship in Pumpkin Cradle, Giant Pumpkin Carving Festival, Halloween Pumpkin Carving for Everyone

Dream Paths

The illuminated tour of the Luminous Dream Paths, Leuchtende Traumpfade, begins with the fall of darkness. There are water installations, fog, illuminations, and laser effects that turn the park landscape in a completely different way.

From October 24th until December 7th, wander through the 2.5 km long circular path around the gardens with 36 light installations.

Opening hours start at 4:30 pm until it closes at 9:30 pm. You will need a separate ticket for attending. The cost is €14.50 for adults and €7.00 for children ages 4 to 14 if you purchase online, with a slight increase in price if you purchase there.

Sand Sculptures

One of the lesser-known but absolutely captivating highlights of the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival is the incredible sand sculpture display.

Nestled among the sea of pumpkins, these massive works of art are meticulously crafted by professional sand sculptors and often tie into its own theme. What’s especially fascinating is that these sculptures are constructed without any internal supports—just sand and water, compacted and carved over the course of several days.

Unfortunately, if you choose to visit later in the season, there may not be many sand sculptures still standing. So plan your visit accordingly.

The sculptures are actually done prior to when the pumpkin festival starts. From May until August, the Ludwigsburg Palace Gardens hosts sand carvers from all over to build their masterpieces.

They offer four different dates for the Sand Speed Carving contest. Contestants have just one hour to carve their most impressive sculptures. The Sand-athon is another event where two teams compete against one another building sculptures. It’s such a treat to get to experience all these sand sculptures while walking through the pumpkin festival.

Fairytale Garden

There are more than pumpkins located at the festival and Palace to see and wander through, especially for children.

Take a stroll through the fairytale gardens to see where Sleeping Beauty lives, climb the stairs to the castle to see Rapunzel’s long hair, play in the playground, and take a boat tour along the stream.

Look for all your favorite characters from your most beloved stories. You can even enter the castle and walk down the stairs for a way out.

All the Pumpkin Food, Drink, and Souvenirs

The Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival offers a wide range of food options to suit all tastes. From traditional German cuisine to international food, there is something for everyone.

Since pumpkin is such a diverse vegetable, several foods can be made with it. Some pumpkin-themed foods include pumpkin pie, pumpkin curry, and pumpkin spätzle.

In addition to food, there are also plenty of drink options available, including all the pumpkin beer, wine, and cider. There are also pumpkin snacks sold throughout the shops, as well as other pumpkin themed souvenirs.

Roasted pumpkin seeds, jams, fruit spreads, as well as pumpkin seeds to grow your own pumpkins are sold in the shops. The flavored pumpkin seeds were absolutely amazing, I left with 3 bags!

Visiting the Palace

The Ludwigsburg Palace is a must-see attraction when visiting the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival. The palace was built in the 18th century and is an impressive example of Baroque architecture.

You can visit the Palace in addition to attending the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival, but there is an additional ticket needed. The interior rooms of the palace can only be visited as part of a guided tour.

English guided tours are available from April 1st to October 31st, Monday – Friday at 1:15 pm and 3:15 pm. On Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, English tours are available at 11:15 am.

Admission prices: €9.00 for adults, €4.50 for reduced/children, €22.50 for families

Hours for the Palace:

• March 23 – November 1:
  • Monday – Friday 11:00 am – 4:00 pm | Saturday/Sunday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
• January 8 – February 9:
  • Monday – Friday 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm | Saturday/Sunday 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
• February 10 – February 18:
  • Monday – Sunday 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
• February 19 – March 22:
  • Friday 11:00 pm – 3:00 pm | Saturday/Sunday 11:00 am – 4:00 pm

Tips on Visiting Ludwigsburg

The Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival is a popular event, so it is best to plan your visit in advance. Here are some tips to make the most out of your experience.

Plan Ahead

Purchase your tickets online in advance to avoid the ticket lines. I also recommend planning on visiting during the weekday to avoid the crowds and lines. Personally, I always choose to arrive right after it opens so I can explore and take picture without many people in there.

I also recommend visiting in the early months and not waiting until end of October or November. My second year visiting, we went at the end of November and a lot of pumpkins were falling off the displays and rotting, as well as half of the sand sculptures were down, on top of it being rainy.

Don’t forget to check the weather forecast before your visit and dress accordingly. Weather in Germany can be quite unpredictable.

Cash or Card?

Cash is key when doing anything in Germany, so keep some euro on you if you want to purchase anything.

A lot of the stands and shops take card, as well as purchasing your entrance tickets, but quite a few food and drink options were euro cash only.

What to Bring

I always recommend bringing your own water and a few snacks wherever you go for the ease, as well as to stay hydrated. I don’t go anywhere without my reusable water bottle in my bag.

Also, you cannot miss taking all the beautiful pictures without a camera. This little Sony is the perfect size to fit in any bag, while taking pictures of all the pumpkin displays. It’s one of my favorites when I don’t want to bring out my bigger and heavier DSLR camera.

Due to the unpredictable weather in Germany, I also recommend bringing an umbrella in case of rain. Once the fall hits, you can experience multiple seasons of weather in one day.

Are Dogs Allowed?

Bringing a dog is generally allowed, but there are a few restrictions to keep in mind. The dogs must always be kept on a short leash during the visit.

The dogs must also be kept away from the lawns, gardens, and play areas. If your dog does happen to go to the bathroom, you are obliged to remove the feces immediately.

The Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival is a true autumn gem, offering a sensory feast for visitors of all ages. With its stunning displays, delectable culinary offerings, and family-friendly activities, it’s a celebration that captures the essence of the season. So, don your coziest sweater and embark on a whimsical journey through a world where pumpkins reign supreme. Your heart and taste buds will absolutely thank you.