Pumpkin Festival in Pastrengo
From 3 to 7 September 2026, Pastrengo, east of Lake Garda, celebrates the traditional Pumpkin Festival. Also known as Zucca Folk or Festa della Zucca, it gives an insight into traditions of the region, with serene music and guided tours of the historic city.
The cuisine here shows its most creative side and serves all sorts of dishes using pumpkin. In Pastrengo during the festival, you can smell Risotti, Tortelli di Zucca, peasant dishes, as well as bread and pumpkin desserts. The entertainment programme includes special activities for children, various exhibitions, pumpkin carvings, pumpkin seed market stalls, books and recipes. The highlight of the event is a pumpkin contest where they give awards to the strangest, the longest, the thickest and the most beautifully decorated pumpkins.
As part of the festival, artists and hobby artisans exhibit their creations. The most amazing and elaborately carved pumpkins get presented. You may even learn a trick or two in vegetable carving. On Sunday, the time comes when the most original pumpkin is rewarded and appropriately celebrated with dinner and music. It is the last chance to enjoy the autumn vegetable in its refined form. The Festa della Zucca certainly inspires for your next pumpkin creation. Perhaps for the upcoming Halloween celebration?
Additional information:
www.prolocopastrengo.it