Just outside of Stuttgart, the city of Ludwigsburg offers a mix of Baroque grandeur and seasonal charm. Best known for its sprawling Residential Palace and manicured gardens, Ludwigsburg also hosts the world’s largest pumpkin festival each fall. From late August through early November, the palace grounds transform into a celebration of all things pumpkin—where art, food, and tradition meet under the golden colors of autumn.

Ludwigsburg and Its Palace

Ludwigsburg grew around the Residential Palace (Residenzschloss Ludwigsburg), built in the early 18th century under Duke Eberhard Ludwig of Württemberg. Today, it’s one of the largest Baroque complexes in Germany, with over 450 rooms and extensive gardens that stretch across 32 hectares (79 acres). Visitors can tour the opulent interiors, stroll through themed garden sections, or simply enjoy the palace as a backdrop to seasonal events like the Pumpkin Festival.

The Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival

The Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival (Kürbisausstellung Ludwigsburg) has been delighting visitors since the late 1990s and has grown into the largest pumpkin exhibition in the world. Each year brings a new theme, shaping the pumpkin sculptures that dot the gardens. Past years have featured everything from fairy tales to pumpkins under water—in 2023, the theme was “Fire,” with sculptures carved and arranged to capture the energy of flames, dragons, and sparks of imagination.

Beyond the artistic displays, the festival features:

• Pumpkin weighing contests, where giant gourds tip the scales at record-breaking numbers.
• Pumpkin carving, ranging from playful to frighteningly detailed.
• A pumpkin variety show, highlighting hundreds of species in every color and shape.
• The quirky pumpkin regatta, where participants paddle across the palace lake in hollowed-out pumpkins.

And, of course, no visit is complete without trying the food. Pumpkin finds its way into everything—from fries and Spätzle (a soft egg noodle popular in southern Germany) to ice cream and sparkling Kürbis-Secco (a pumpkin-infused version of prosecco). We sampled pumpkin soup served with hearty bread topped with pumpkin seeds, along with Maultaschen (a Swabian specialty often compared to large ravioli, filled with meat or vegetables). Warm, filling, and unmistakably seasonal—it was festival food at its best.

Sculptures and Seasonal Scenes

Walking the grounds, we stopped often to admire the creativity on display. Towering figures built from pumpkins stood alongside playful designs—everything from jellyfish to cartoon characters brought to life in gourds. Sand sculptures added another layer of artistry, reminding us that the festival is as much about imagination as it is about harvest.

Between the sculptures, the palace gardens themselves made the perfect setting. Flowerbeds still in bloom, fountains, and tree-lined paths added splashes of color, while the Baroque palace provided an impressive backdrop. The combination of art, history, and seasonal atmosphere made wandering through the festival a wonderful experience from start to finish.

Practical Details – Location & Getting There

The Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival runs each year from late August through early November. For 2025, the dates are August 23 to November 2, with the theme “Big Cinema.”

From Stuttgart, Ludwigsburg is easy to reach:

• By train: Regular regional trains (RE, RB, and S-Bahn) connect Stuttgart to Ludwigsburg in about 15 minutes. The journey is fully covered by the Deutschland-Ticket, making it an easy and affordable day trip. For up-to-date schedules and connections, check the DB Navigator app or the VVS app.
• By car: The drive takes about 20–30 minutes, but parking can be limited on busy weekends, so public transport is often the easier choice.

Once at Ludwigsburg, the palace and festival grounds are a short walk from the train station.

Closing

A visit to Ludwigsburg in autumn is about more than pumpkins—it’s a chance to enjoy history, creativity, and seasonal flavors all in one place. Whether you come for the sculptures, the food, or simply the chance to walk through palace gardens framed by fall colors, the Pumpkin Festival is a tradition worth experiencing.

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Have you visited the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival or another fall harvest celebration? Share your questions, stories, or favorite memories in the comments below—I’d love to hear from you!