PUMPKIN FESTIVAL – Enchanted Forest, Workshops and Halloween

WHAT AWAITS YOU

This year’s festival takes on a spooky theme, turning the garden into an enchanted forest filled with witches, spiders, will-o’-the-wisps, and other creatures of fantasy. A haunted castle and maze will also be part of the adventure.

The striking pumpkin arrangements are prepared by students of the Czech Horticultural School in Mělník, under the guidance of Petra Křížová, in collaboration with our gardeners. Alongside pumpkins of every shape, size, and colour, you’ll find creative decorations inspired by fairy-tale characters and ghostly figures, adding to the garden’s autumn atmosphere.

A lively weekend programme accompanies the exhibition:

11–12 October – Pumpkin Playtime

18–19 October – Creative Workshops

25–26 October – Pumpkin Carving

All activities take place in the covered Exhibition Hall, so you can enjoy them come rain or shine.

The festival culminates on 31 October with an evening lantern parade through the garden and a Halloween celebration for visitors of all ages.

KEY INFORMATION

Dates and Venue

10 October – 2 November, in the Ornamental Garden and in the Forest.

Workshops are held in the covered Exhibition Hall of the Ornamental Garden.

Opening Hours in October

Daily: 9:00 am – 7:00 pm

Special extended opening: Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 November – until 7:00 pm (instead of 4:00 pm).

After dusk, the garden comes alive with illuminated pumpkin installations, perfect for evening strolls if you missed the Halloween festivities. This magical display also marks the start of November in our enchanted forest.

Food and drink stalls will be available throughout the weekend of 1–2 November.

Admission

Admission to the exhibition is included in the standard entrance fee to the botanical garden.

Save 15% with an e-ticket.

Admission includes entry to the Outdoor Expositions and the Fata Morgana Greenhouse.
Annual passes, neighbour passes, and VIP tickets are valid for this event.

* Dogs are permitted only in the Outdoor Expositions.

** Visitors with a disability card (ZTP/P) or an equivalent may bring an accompanying person free of charge.

Getting Here

The garden is accessible in various ways, but the most convenient is to use public transportation. Please click here for a complete overview of how to reach us, including parking information.

WEEKEND PROGRAMME

11–12 October – Pumpkin Playtime (10:00 am – 5:00 pm)

• Create figures from pumpkins and natural materials.
• Pumpkins for sale in the square in front of the Exhibition Hall: 40–100 CZK depending on size (cash or QR payment).
• Workshop entry only with a pumpkin purchased on-site (token required).
• Please bring a paper bag for your decorated pumpkin (only limited numbers available on-site).
• Refreshments: soups, pancakes, lángos, soft drinks, mulled wine.

18–19 October – Creative Workshops (10:00 am – 5:00 pm)

• Activities: wooden owl and colourful spider.
• Price: 30–50 CZK (cash or QR payment).
• Refreshments: soups, pancakes, lángos, soft drinks, mulled wine.

25–26 October – Pumpkin Carving (10:00 am – 5:00 pm)

• Carve your own Jack-o'-lantern.
• Pumpkins on-site: 100 CZK (cash or QR payment).
• LED candle: 15 CZK.
• Workshop entry only with a pumpkin purchased on-site (token required).
• Please bring a paper bag for your carved pumpkin.
• Refreshments: soups, pancakes, lángos, soft drinks, mulled wine.

31 October – Halloween & Lantern Parade (2:00 pm–7:00 pm)

Experience the magical Halloween atmosphere at the Prague Botanical Garden! An afternoon full of music, games, creative workshops, and a spooky lantern parade through the garden awaits you.

Main Program (Ornamental Garden)

2:00 PM – Opening of the event, background music, program introduction (hosted by Martin Hrdinka)

2:30–3:00 PM – Animáci: songs, games, and competitions for children

3:30–4:00 PM – Animáci: songs, games, and competitions for children

4:10–4:30 PM – Queens of the 80s – musical performance by Gábina and Katka

4:50–5:20 PM – Animáci: songs, games, and competitions for children

5:00–6:00 PM – Čárymáry písnička! – a spooky block of songs and games for children (Gábina and Katka)

6:00 PM – Spooky lantern parade through the darkened garden (starting at Café Ornament, Ornamental Garden)

Accompanying Program

Children’s workshops – making paper lanterns, 2:00–6:00 PM (last entry at 5:15 PM), price 85 CZK, LED candle 15 CZK (cash or card payment)

Pumpkin installations – illuminated from 6:00 PM

Creative workshops and crafts – 2:00–6:00 PM

Maze, children’s attractions, sand painting

Food stalls – soups, pancakes, langoš (fried dough), lemonades, mulled wine, and the option to roast sausages

A Kind Request to Visitors of the Pumpkin Exhibition

Dear visitors,

We are delighted by your great interest in our Pumpkin Exhibition. It brings us joy to see so many of you coming to the Botanical Garden to enjoy the autumn atmosphere and the vibrant beauty of pumpkins in all their shapes and colors.

However, we kindly ask you to be considerate toward the garden and other visitors. The Botanical Garden is a living space that we care for throughout the entire year. Its plants, trees, and arrangements are an essential part of it and deserve our attention and respect.

We therefore kindly ask you to:

- not enter the flower beds or grassy areas outside the designated paths,

- not damage plants or pumpkin arrangements,

- not take the displayed pumpkins,

- not climb trees, or break their branches.

The garden is a place meant to bring peace, joy, and inspiration. Please help us preserve its beauty for everyone to enjoy.

Thank you for respecting the environment of the Botanical Garden and treating it with care.

The Team of the Prague Botanical Garden

Join us this autumn for a season of pumpkins, creativity, and enchantment. We look forward to welcoming you!

This festival is held with the support of our partner, to whom we extend our thanks.

Please note: should the venue reach full capacity, the organiser reserves the right to limit entry.