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Welcome to our
pumpkin land

An autumn spectacle for the whole family... where colourful circus-sculptures, decorated with pumpkins form the backdrop of Pumpkimania. Also enjoy our weekend activity, as a pumpkin boat tour on the water and taste unique pumpkin dishes in the park of the Castle Grand-Bigard.

Buy tickets

Open from
19 Sept till
3 Nov 2024

Welcome to our
pumpkin land

An autumn spectacle for the whole family... where colourful circus-sculptures, decorated with pumpkins form the backdrop of Pumpkimania. Also enjoy our weekend activity, as a pumpkin boat tour on the water and taste unique pumpkin dishes in the park of the Castle Grand-Bigard.

Buy tickets

Concept

Pumpkins exist in over 800 varieties. They appear in different shapes, sizes and colors. The origin of the seeds can be found all over the world. With this large variety in colors and shapes, the Jucker Farm in Switzerland creates stunning pumpkin-art exhibitions based on different topics.

The impressive wooden and wired sculptures are decorated with thousands of colorful pumpkins which represent the shell of the art objects. Artists from the Jucker Farm compose the pumpkins in a way that creates astonishing views and selfie-points for the visitors of the event.

The topic 2024 in Groot-Bijgaarden will be “Circus”. A tiger jumps through a ring, a circus elephant and clowns are just some of the impressive sculptures that will be shown. Additionally, there will be lots of colorful pumpkins that will transform the park into an autumn-themed 'pumpkin land'.

What's more to experience?

Visitors will have the opportunity to taste our pumpkin-fries with an amazing flavour of Marroni chestnuts and other unique pumpkin dishes.

Pumpkinsoup

A tasty pumpkin soup after your walk cannot be missed. Try out our special pumpkin dishes in the greenhouse of the park.

Make sure you visit Pumpkimania during the weekend, because every Saturday and Sunday different activities will run on site, like the Pumpkin Boat Tour or Pumpkin Carving.

Practical

Pumpkimania - Pumpkin Festival | Castle Grand-Bigard | 19 Sept till 3 Nov 2023

TICKETS

From 18 years: 14 EUR

Handicapped pers.: 12 EUR
Companion handicapped pers.: 12 EUR

From 6 to 17 years: 8 EUR
Kids (- 6 years): 0 EUR

Family pack (2 ad + 2 kids): 39 EUR
Extra kid in the family pack: 6,50 EUR per kid

Buy tickets 

You can change your visiting day by clicking on the link of your ticket


Where?

In the park of the castle Grand-Bigard (near Brussels)
Isidoor Van Beverenstraat 5 - 1702 Groot-Bijgaarden

Thursdays and Fridays, car park in the loan across the entrance bridge.
Saturdays and Sundays, car park in the loan, field, DEER and HOCKE.

Map Car Park for Saturdays and Sundays.

TIP - use public transport: train station Groot-Bijgaarden and come on foot.


When?

19 Sept till 3 Nov 2024 - From 10:00 to 18:00
Closed on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, except for 28 Oct to 3 Nov 2024.


 FAQ

Activities & Halloween

There are plenty of activities every weekend, click on the items below to find out more about them. Note in your calendar: HALLOWEEN atmosphere from 28 Oct to 3 Nov, 2024.

Halloween in Pumpkimania!
28/10 to 03/11/2024

Halloween in Pumpkimania!

More info

28/10 to 03/11/2024

Halloween in Pumpkimania!

Halloween in Pumpkimania!

Experience a spooky atmosphere in the park of Grand-Bigard's Castle during Pumpkimania!

📅 28 October to 3 November 

⏰ Daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

🏰 Explore the spooky Donjon and the park 

🎃 Admire our unique pumpkin sculptures 

👻 Meet our staff dressed as Halloween Figures

👔 Calling all monsters, witches and ghosts! 

Come dressed up and experience the Halloween magic at Pumpkimania.

Pumpkin boat tour
Every Saturday and Sunday (from 11:00)

Pumpkin boat tour

More info

Every Saturday and Sunday (from 11:00)

Pumpkin boat tour

Pumpkin boat tour

Giant pumpkins appear every autumn and are grown by professional growers in Belgium. Pumpkins with a weight of about 250 kg are very suitable to hollow out and can be used as a Kayak with double paddle. The beautiful, situated moat-lake of the Castle is the perfect place to hold this extraordinary boat tour. Just give it a try!

Pumpkimania Kitchen
Every openingday 19/09 to 03/11, closed at 17:00

Pumpkimania Kitchen

More info

Every openingday 19/09 to 03/11, closed at 17:00

Pumpkimania Kitchen

Pumpkimania Kitchen

Try your favourite pumpkin dishes! Be surprised by two chefs who present an assortment of pumpkin specialities. Each week, a dish of the week will be presented.

Pumpkin Carving by an artist
Every Saturday and Sunday

Pumpkin Carving by an artist

More info

Every Saturday and Sunday

Pumpkin Carving by an artist

Pumpkin Carving by an artist

The price for winning the biggest pumpkins from the Brussels Open pumpkin weigh off can still be admired by the visitors, but other big pumpkins will get a chance to also have their moment of fame. An outstanding pumpkin artist create beautiful art with the help of some knives and carving tools. As the carved art will become rotten after approximately one week, visitors are advised to schedule their visit in that weekend or in the first days of the weekend to admire the beautifully carved giant pumpkins in their full glory.

Pumpkin Carving
Every Saturday and Sunday (11:00 to 17:30)

Pumpkin Carving

More info

Every Saturday and Sunday (11:00 to 17:30)

Pumpkin Carving

Pumpkin Carving

From now, there will be an extra activity every Saturday and Sunday: Halloween pumpkin carving!

The organisers will have a work table and tools to carve the Halloween pumpkins. You can carve your pumpkin on Saturday and Sunday between 1pm and 6pm. 

How can I take part?1. Buy your pumpkin in our shop2. Have fun carving your pumpkin with the tools provided

Dance performance DO! TIME FOR YOU
Sat/Sun 26 and 27/10 (14:00 to 16:00, incl. break)

Dance performance DO! TIME FOR YOU

More info

Sat/Sun 26 and 27/10 (14:00 to 16:00, incl. break)

Dance performance DO! TIME FOR YOU

Dance performance DO! TIME FOR YOU

Entertaining dance performances by a local dance group Do! Time on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 October from 2pm to 4pm in the castle's greenhouse. 

Dance performance DO! TIME FOR YOU
Thu 31/10 (14:00 to 16:00, incl. break)

Dance performance DO! TIME FOR YOU

More info

Thu 31/10 (14:00 to 16:00, incl. break)

Dance performance DO! TIME FOR YOU

Dance performance DO! TIME FOR YOU

Entertaining dance performances by a local dance group Do! Time on Thursday 31 October from 2pm to 4pm in the castle's greenhouse.

Giant Pumpkin Slaughtery
Sun 03/11 (13:00 to 16:00)

Giant Pumpkin Slaughtery

More info

Sun 03/11 (13:00 to 16:00)

Giant Pumpkin Slaughtery

Giant Pumpkin Slaughtery

The Giant Pumpkins Winners from the Brussels Open Weigh Off will be dissected by the growers to harvest their seeds for the next year. The visitors can see how these vegetable giants look on the inside, have a chance to get in touch with the grower and purchase some of their seeds. They'll also have the opportunity to ask questions and get some tips on how to become a successful grower themselves in the future. The fleshy insides of the giant pumpkins can be used to make pumpkin soup and will be given away for free – for as long as available.

“Brussels Open” Pumpkin Weigh off
Sat/Sun 21/09 (contest) and 22/09 (expo)

“Brussels Open” Pumpkin Weigh off

More info

Sat/Sun 21/09 (contest) and 22/09 (expo)

“Brussels Open” Pumpkin Weigh off

“Brussels Open” Pumpkin Weigh off

1191 kg was the weight of the world’s biggest pumpkin in the year of 2016. This world record pumpkin was grown by the Belgium grower Matthias Willemijns. In the Belgium village of Kasterlee, a lot of colossal pumpkins are grown every year. We are very happy to invite on 21 September all growers from Belgium and any other country in the park of the Grand-Bigard castle to join the 'Brussels Open Pumpkin Weigh Off' to find out which will be the heaviest one. 

The weighing of the giant pumpkins starts at 1pm.

On 22 September, the three biggest pumpkins will stay in the park to be admired by the visitors. 

Prizes if the pumpkins stay in the park:

1st place: 1,000 euros

2nd place: 500 euros

3rd place: 400 euros

4th place: 350 euros

5th place: 300 euros

6th place: 250 Euros

7th place: 200 euros

8th place: EUR 150

9th place: 100 euros

10th place: 50 euros

Growers will get their seeds back by the end of the event.

Pumpkin-Multiple-Competition
Sat/Sun 28 and 29/09

Pumpkin-Multiple-Competition

More info

Sat/Sun 28 and 29/09

Pumpkin-Multiple-Competition

Pumpkin-Multiple-Competition

During this event, there will be multiple competitions involving pumpkins. For example, pumpkin paddling, wheelbarrow race or pumpkin taste identification are some of the challenges. The participants need to partake in different disciplines to ultimately become a winner in the Multiple-Pumpkin-Competition. This challenge will put a crown on the heads of the real pumpkin queens and kings. The winners will be honored with nice small pumpkin surprises.

Magic Arts Initiation
Sat/Sun 05 and 06/10 (14:00 to 17:00)

Magic Arts Initiation

More info

Sat/Sun 05 and 06/10 (14:00 to 17:00)

Magic Arts Initiation

Magic Arts Initiation

Participate fun circus initiations, organized by Magic Arts!

For who? Kids and adultsWhere? Not far from the greenhouse, on the large meadow of the parkWhen? 05 and 06 October from 14h to 17h

Dance performance DO! TIME FOR YOU
Sat 05/10 (14:00 to 16:00, incl. break)

Dance performance DO! TIME FOR YOU

More info

Sat 05/10 (14:00 to 16:00, incl. break)

Dance performance DO! TIME FOR YOU

Dance performance DO! TIME FOR YOU

Entertaining dance performances by a local dance group Do! Time on Saturday 05 October from 2pm to 4pm in the castle's greenhouse.

Dance performance DO! TIME FOR YOU
Sat/Sun 12 and 13/10 (14:00 to 16:00, incl. break)

Dance performance DO! TIME FOR YOU

More info

Sat/Sun 12 and 13/10 (14:00 to 16:00, incl. break)

Dance performance DO! TIME FOR YOU

Dance performance DO! TIME FOR YOU

Entertaining dance performances by a local dance group Do! Time on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 October from 2pm to 4pm in the castle's greenhouse.

Biggest Belgium Pumpkin Soup (200 liter)
Sat/Sun 19 and 20/10

Biggest Belgium Pumpkin Soup (200 liter)

More info

Sat/Sun 19 and 20/10

Biggest Belgium Pumpkin Soup (200 liter)

Biggest Belgium Pumpkin Soup (200 liter)

You probably haven't seen a cooking pot this big in your entire life, 200 Liters of pumpkin soup is prepared on the spot to be sold to the visitors of the park. For each cup of soup that is sold, € 0.50 will be donated to welfare organizations in Brussels. In case all visitors together are able to clean out this huge pot over the weekend, the organizers double the amount of money that's donated. So come and indulge in a tasty and fresh bowl of pumpkin soup, help to empty the giant pot and support local charities!