A 772-kilogram pumpkin headlines a celebration near Brussels.
BRUSSELS
Thousands of pumpkins have transformed the grounds of Groot-Bijgaarden Castle, near the Belgian capital, into an autumn attraction where agricultural craftsmanship, imaginative sculptures and Halloween traditions come together. Organizers of the annual Pumpkimania festival expect approximately 50,000 visitors before the celebrations conclude on November 1.
This year’s theme, “The Magic of the Forest,” has inspired elaborate installations featuring foxes, owls and deer created from pumpkins and other varieties of squash. The displays bring together produce grown across Belgium, Germany and Portugal, turning the historic castle grounds into a temporary exhibition of agricultural diversity and artistic creativity.
Among the principal attractions is a giant pumpkin weighing 772 kilograms. The enormous specimen participated in the castle’s traditional weighing competition on September 26, demonstrating the exceptional dimensions that specialized growers can achieve through careful cultivation.
The festival also gives oversized pumpkins an unexpected second purpose. Some are hollowed out and transformed into makeshift kayaks, allowing visitors to watch an unusual combination of gardening, engineering and aquatic entertainment on the castle lake.
Families can participate in pumpkin-carving workshops during weekends, exploring a craft widely associated with Halloween. The activity provides an opportunity to transform ordinary agricultural produce into decorative objects while introducing younger visitors to seasonal traditions.
Beginning October 24, the Halloween program will extend the castle’s daily opening hours until 7 p.m. The celebrations will culminate in an event featuring the destruction of giant pumpkins, bringing the seasonal gathering to a theatrical conclusion.
The festival takes place in Dilbeek, approximately 10 kilometers from central Brussels. Admission costs 16 euros for adults and 9 euros for children aged five to fourteen, while younger children can enter free of charge.
Behind the colorful installations lies a less predictable agricultural reality. Organizers have acknowledged difficulties during the growing season following a hot summer, illustrating how outdoor cultural events remain dependent on changing weather conditions and the availability of suitable crops.
Such challenges can affect harvest quality, production planning and the preparation of large-scale displays. The successful assembly of this year’s installations nevertheless demonstrates the coordination required between growers, artists and event organizers.
Pumpkin festivals also occupy an interesting position within European seasonal culture. Although carved pumpkins are strongly associated with Halloween, squash cultivation has a broader agricultural history, and contemporary celebrations combine harvest traditions with entertainment, tourism and visual arts.
At Groot-Bijgaarden, that combination takes place within a historic architectural setting. The contrast between the castle’s grounds and the temporary sculptures creates an experience that differs from conventional agricultural exhibitions.
The event also illustrates how seasonal festivals can connect local cultural activity with international visitors. Its organizers’ attendance projection reflects expectations rather than a final visitor count, but the anticipated scale points to continuing interest in experiences that combine outdoor recreation and participatory activities.
For families, the appeal may lie in the spectacle of enormous pumpkins or the opportunity to carve a Halloween decoration. For growers, the event offers a public setting in which specialized agricultural work can be appreciated beyond the traditional food market.
Pumpkimania ultimately turns a familiar autumn crop into something larger than a seasonal commodity. Through sculpture, craftsmanship and playful experimentation, the festival demonstrates how agriculture can become a meeting point between cultural imagination and community celebration.
Beyond the Ordinary, Culture Comes Alive.