Pumpkin Exhibition Fire

One of Germany's largest pumpkin exhibitions

Since its first edition in 2003, the Kaiserslautern Garden Show's pumpkin exhibition has developed into one of the largest and most visited events of its kind in Germany. With around 45,000 pumpkins cultivated and arranged for a single season, it surpasses many comparable shows. The 2026 exhibition runs from September 1st to October 31st, thus concluding the summer season of the Garden Show grounds in an autumnal fashion.

Theme 2026 – Fire

Each season has its own theme, which shapes the pumpkin sculptures, the color scheme, and the accompanying installations. For 2026, the motto is Fire. The theme invites powerful, vibrant installations: deep orange and red, blazing flame sculptures made of pumpkins, dragons, firebirds, volcanic landscapes, and allusions to the power of fire in mythology and nature. The exact design is developed in-house by the Garden Show team; artists and gardeners work on the setup for several weeks before the exhibition opens.

Variety of Varieties and Crafts

The exhibition presents an extraordinary variety of varieties: Hokkaido, Butternut, Muskat, Patisson, Turban, Halloween pumpkin, and numerous lesser-known varieties in all colors from bright orange to deep green and yellow to pale blue-gray and deep red. The sculptures combine hundreds of individual pumpkins into large-format works that only reveal their full impact from a distance. Maintenance and renewal are necessary over the two-month run: Rotten pumpkins are replaced, and new accents are set.

Family Experience and Accompanying Program

The pumpkin exhibition is particularly popular with families and is complemented by accompanying formats: pumpkin carving courses, harvest festival programs, culinary offerings with pumpkin specialties, fairy tale and reading stations for children. In October, the Halloween connection intensifies, with special evening tours at dusk and occasional special events. Admission is via the regular Garden Show ticket.