Belgium: Pumpkimania festival takes over Groot-Bijgaarden Castle

Loading the video No Comment Video. Belgium: Pumpkimania festival takes over Groot-Bijgaarden Castle Copy/paste the link below: Copy/paste the article video embed link below: Updated: 16/10/2026 - 16:16 GMT+2 Foxes, owls and deer made from pumpkins have taken over Groot-Bijgaarden Castle near Brussels. The Pumpkimania festival features a 772kg giant, pumpkin boat rides and Halloween activities until 1 November. Thousands of pumpkins have transformed the grounds of Groot-Bijgaarden Castle near Brussels into a colourful autumn wonderland for the annual Pumpkimania festival. This year's theme, “The Magic of the Forest”, features towering sculptures of foxes, owls and deer covered in pumpkins of every shape and size, sourced from Belgium, Germany and Portugal. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The star attraction is a giant pumpkin weighing 772 kilograms, grown for the castle's traditional weigh-off on 26 September. Visitors can also watch giant pumpkins being turned into makeshift kayaks for rides across the castle lake. Organisers expect around 50,000 visitors before the festival closes on 1 November. Families can take part in pumpkin-carving workshops at weekends, while the Halloween programme will see the castle open daily until 7pm from 24 October. The festivities will end with a giant pumpkin-smashing event. Despite a difficult growing season following a hot summer, the displays have filled the estate with thousands of pumpkins. Located in Dilbeek, about 10 kilometres from central Brussels, the festival costs €16 for adults and €9 for children aged 5 to 14, with free entry for younger children. Belgium pumpkin Festival Autumn Halloween Vegetables Top stories Now playing Next Belgium: Pumpkimania festival takes over Groot-Bijgaarden Castle Now playing Next Russian missiles spark huge factory fires in Ukraine’s Odesa and Zaporizhzhia Now playing Next Italy: Nationwide air traffic control issues disrupt flights at Rome airport Now playing Next Latest news bulletin | October 16th, 2026 – Midday Now playing Next Ukraine unveils flying ambulance drone that could save lives in minutes Now playing Next Families of children killed in Pakistan school collapse demand justice Now playing Next Houthi missile attack targets Yemeni presidential palace in Aden Now playing Next Mont Blanc rises by almost two metres, now standing at 4,807.47 metres Now playing Next Musk suggests US behind slowdown in Ukraine's Starshield system Now playing Next Russia miscalculated in sidelining Europe, Kallas tells Euronews Now playing Next Thousands of supermarket fridges still exposed after cyberattacks Now playing Next Zelenskyy adviser: Starlink operations restricted in Ukraine overnight Now playing Next Paris Motor Show: Renault and Citroën unveil electric concepts inspired by classic cars Now playing Next Vatican releases first photos of Pope Leo XIV after lung tumour surgery Now playing Next From Samarkand to Paris: Preserving Central Asia's scientific heritage Now playing Next Inside Qatar’s Geekend where gamers, cosplayers and artists share their love of games, comics and anime ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT No Comment Turkey: Worst rainfall in 80 years unleashes deadly floods near Istanbul No Comment Albania: Violent protests rock Tirana for third straight day No Comment UK: Harry and Meghan make high-profile comeback six years after royal exit No Comment Indonesia's skies turn apocalyptic orange as smoke blankets Singapore Earth News ‘Subsidising suicide’: UN chief urges governments to stop propping up polluting fossil fuels Europe News Russia strikes nine Ukrainian regions as strain grows between Zelenskyy and Trump Europe Today Russians can't sip margaritas in the EU while Putin bombs Ukraine, says EPP MEP Europe News Italy data network glitch hits airports: Flights delayed and cancellations Europe Today Irish minister says EU budget deal still possible 'by Christmas' Tech News 'Well, it worked': Elon Musk unveils new Tesla Roadster that can fly Europe Today Europe Today: Zelenskyy in Brussels as Kyiv looks to Europe amid tension with US Europe Today Ukraine pushes for European alternatives to US air defences and Starlink amid tensions with Washington ADVERTISEMENT USA Candlelight vigil honours victims of Oregon school shooting Europe News EU summit: Zelenskyy asks leaders for €70 billion in extra support Earth News A kite-powered snow sled designed in Spain is gliding across Antarctica in world-first Europe News Trump’s Russian diesel deal driven by ‘dubious business motives’, Latvian MEP Kols tells Euronews Belgium Europeans ‘far more united’ on tougher China trade stance after German shift, Barkin says Europe News Dozens reportedly injured in police crackdown on Portugal housing protest Iran Another tanker catches fire near Hormuz after two cargo ships sunk in attacks Europe News Tears, hugs and continued fight for housing: Madrid's Puerta del Sol after two weeks ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT