Tulleys Pumpkin Festival opens with record attendance and expansion
Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 12 Oct, 11:26 · Archive
Tulleys Pumpkin Festival near Crawley in West Sussex opened on 19 September with its biggest opening-day attendance and largest-ever expansion.
Tulleys Pumpkin Festival, near Crawley in West Sussex, opened its 2026 season on 19 September with record opening-day attendance. Described as Europe's largest pumpkin attraction, the festival has evolved from a traditional pumpkin patch into one of the UK's most popular autumn attractions, drawing visitors from across Britain and overseas.
The festival now spans more than 100 acres of farmland, with more than 1.5 million pumpkins and gourds spread across the site. Over 100 different varieties are available throughout the festival and Pick Your Own fields, with around 600,000 pumpkin seeds planted annually to produce the autumn harvest.
This year's major new addition is Pumpkin Valley, a landscaped attraction that took months to create and marks the biggest expansion in the festival's history. The area features streams, ponds, wooden bridges, giant pumpkin sculptures, a Pumpkin Farm House and a Hobbit House.
The farm has become known for picture-perfect displays, with more than 30 photo opportunities dotted around the festival. Organisers credit social media for boosting the attraction's popularity, with visitor images and videos reaching millions of people online.
Visitors can enjoy roaming musicians, street theatre, seasonal food and drink, and a 33-metre Observation Wheel overlooking the surrounding Sussex countryside. Pumpkin Nights, the after-dark experience, runs from 26 September until 31 October on selected evenings.
How it is being reported
- Europe’s largest pumpkin festival just 90 minutes from London is now open to visitOne of Europe's biggest autumn attractions has opened its gates to record visitor numbers as the popular pumpkin festival unveils its largest-ever expansion.News Shopper · 12 Oct, 11:00
- Europe’s largest pumpkin festival just 90 minutes from London is now open to visitOne of Europe's biggest autumn attractions has opened its gates to record visitor numbers as the popular pumpkin festival unveils its largest-ever expansion.Croydon Guardian · 12 Oct, 11:00
- Europe’s largest pumpkin festival just 90 minutes from London is now open to visitOne of Europe's biggest autumn attractions has opened its gates to record visitor numbers as the popular pumpkin festival unveils its largest-ever expansion.This Is Local London · 12 Oct, 11:00
In this story: Tulleys Pumpkin Festival · Crawley · West Sussex · Europe · Britain
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