Strap on your dungarees and grab a twig to chew on. Babylonstoren Farm is hosting its third annual Pumpkin Day on Sunday, 1 March 2026 – a full-blown pumpkin sports, tasting and family celebration in the Cape Winelands.
Pumpkin tenpin bowling, pumpkin carving, pit-spitting, a loofah spa and pumpkin-flavoured treats are just some of the pumpkin-powered antics lined up for the day. There’ll also be pumpkin photo nooks in the garden, along with a pumpkin exhibition in the Puff Adder walkway showcasing the various cucurbits – a dream for any aspiring Cinderella hoping to pick her chariot of choice.
An Atlantic Giant heavyweight has taken up temporary residence in the Moestuin (Kitchen Garden). It is currently receiving excellent care, with water and shade provided as needed, to encourage optimal growth. When conditions are right, it is expected to gain several kilograms per day, eventually reaching hundreds of kilograms. During Pumpkin Fun Day, the giant will be on display in the Puff Adder walkway, and visitors can try their luck at guessing its weight.
Babylonstoren pumpkin prince Morné Oliver and his team are eager to unveil the collection of pumpkins they’ve been tending to all summer. “We have to ensure our pumpkin ladies maintain their glowing cheeks. They even have their own skincare routine,” he quips. “In the beginning, we must distract fruit flies from pricking the young pumpkins’ vulnerable skins to avoid warts and bad spots. Once they’re fully grown, the high summer heat can cause sun damage, so we cover them with hessian sacks to protect them until they’re ripe for picking.”
Babylonstoren grows more than 40 pumpkin varieties. From the teensy tiny Wee Be Little pumpkin that weighs about 500 grams to the huge Big Moose, Polar Bear and Dill’s Atlantic Giant pumpkins that can weigh hundreds of kilograms. The Turk’s Turban – or monkey bums as they’re also called – is another farm favourite. This variegated, double-decker pumpkin is firm and sweet, and beautiful to boot. It will be part of the exhibition in the Puff Adder walkway and will also be available for home delivery from the Babylonstoren online shop (as stock lasts).
Gourds in all their glory will be up for tasting on Sunday, 1 March. Sample pumpkin-inspired goodies at The Greenhouse Restaurant and the garden – including anpampoenkoekie-inspired koesister with a caramel sauce. Tasting stations in the garden will pair pumpkin flavours with Babylonstoren Chenin Blanc, as well as Babylonstoren Extra Virgin Olive Oil tastings that highlight how different cultivars complement earthy flavours like pumpkin.
Families can also visit the farm on Friday, 27 February, or Saturday, 28 February, for Babylonstoren’s annual Pumpkin Fun workshops. Young explorers and their folks will be led on a treasure hunt through the garden and squash-covered Snail, dangling with climbing calabashes and gourds. With the help of their parents, children will be able to cut, scoop and hammer their own pumpkins into quirky carvings.
*Bookings for Pampoenpret (presented in Afrikaans) on 27 February and Pumpkin Fun (presented in English) on 28 February are essential. Book at babylonstoren.com