The Pumpkin Festival is one of those events that is always suggested to us every Fall yet somehow we have never made it down there to see the event. That changed this year when we swung by the Blühendes Barock in Ludwigsburg on our trip down to the Black Forest. 

The Pumpkin Festival is held in the gardens surrounding the Ludwigsburg Residence. Usually there are multiple events throughout the August-November opening dates, but due to COVID almost all of these events were cancelled. We were able to see the largest pumpkin contest but missed out on the pumpkin canoe regatta.

The pumpkin festival is held mostly in the northern part of the gardens. The theme this year was music.

There were booths selling everything pumpkin from sausages to soup to soap. Even pumpkin prosecco was available. While the world’s biggest pumpkin exhibition was interesting, the true hidden gem is the dream like Fairytale Garden that is tucked in the back.

There are over 40 different fairytales that are told throughout this area. All are told in German but since they were all traditional stories it was easy for the kids to identify and understand each story. We were able to take a boat ride down the fairy stream, ask Rapunzel to lower her hair, and we found the witch in the house of sweets. Don’t worry Hansel and Gretel were safe. 

There were so many fun adventures around every corner. There was even a goose that laid golden eggs! (With tiny trinkets inside of course) 

Honestly I feel that the Fairytale garden alone is worth the trip or at least a stop over on your way to Stuttgart or other adventures. So mark this one down as another hidden gem to add to your next trip. Blühendes Barock: come for the pumpkins, stay for the stories.