Seehäuser Kürbismarkt

An Autumn Festival with Giant Pumpkins

The Seehäuser Kürbismarkt is one of the firmly established autumn markets in the Stendal district. Once a year, traditionally on the second Saturday in October, gardeners meet in the Hanseatic town of Seehausen with their most impressive cultivated specimens. In front of the town scales, the pumpkins are lined up and weighed to the exact kilogram – whoever brings the heaviest wins the coveted traveling trophy.

Stands line the market square and the surrounding moat. There are ornamental and edible pumpkins in all shapes and colors, plus ceramics, furs, knitwear, felt hats and bags, honey, candles, and much more. The stalls are stocked by traders from the entire Altmark region and beyond – a lovingly curated mix of arts and crafts and regional products that gives the market its distinctive profile.

Culinary Delights and Family Entertainment

Those who come to the market hungry will not be disappointed: Pumpkin soup steams from large cauldrons, alongside jams, roast pork, freshly smoked fish from the Altmark waters, grilled specialties, honey, ice cream, as well as warm punch and cocktails. A stage in the town center provides acoustic accompaniment with folk and brass music from the region – including the Eichenbläser Beuster.

At the caravan campsite by the moat, a special program awaits the younger guests: carousels, bouncy castles, face painting, and pony rides. This makes the pumpkin market one of the few Volksfeste (popular festivals) in Saxony-Anhalt that can be visited for a day trip for the whole family without an entrance fee.

Hanseatic Town with Autumn Charm

Seehausen itself is worth a visit beyond the market. The brick Gothic architecture of St. Petri Church, the historic town gates, and the tranquil old town atmosphere make strolling between the stalls a small historical journey. Anyone traveling in the northern Altmark should not miss this October date.