Scotland's original and biggest pumpkin festival is taking place at Arnprior Farm near Stirling, with over 20,000 pumpkins spread across a vast field. The festival runs for three weeks in October, until October 31, and offers a range of activities, food stalls, and an indoor pumpkin patch experience if the weather turns.
Festival highlights and activities
Visitors can grab a wheelbarrow and weave through lines of pumpkins in various shapes, colours, and sizes. Beyond pumpkin picking, the dog-friendly patch features bouncy castles, pumpkin cannons, quad pod rides, and a bale mountain. Food and refreshment stalls offer local produce, including home bakes, fried chicken, pizza, and burgers, catering to dietary requirements.
During a recent visit, the most popular food vendor was Duncan Donuts, serving freshly made hot donuts and marshmallows. Marshmallows were given on large sticks for safe roasting over fire pits. The donuts were described as warm, sugary, and airy. A Pumpkin Spiced Margarita was also tried, noted for its sweet and sour flavour and a healthy dose of alcohol.
Ticket information and availability
Tickets are priced at £14.90 per car, with £5 of the ticket price redeemable on a small pumpkin. Larger pumpkins are more expensive and not included in the deal. Those arriving by car must book online at available time slots to manage parking. Free walk-ins are available from 9am to 5:30pm if guests arrive by bus or taxi, with the X10 bus stopping near the entrance.
At the time of writing, the last available car slots are: Tuesday, October 27, 3:30pm to 6pm; Wednesday, October 28, 3:30pm to 6pm; Thursday, October 29, 3:30pm to 6pm; and Saturday, October 31, with slots from 9am to 11:30am, 12pm to 2:30pm, and 3pm to 5:30pm. All information can be found on the Arnprior Farm website.
