Kasterlee's pumpkin market: a Sunday of giant pumpkins and crafts

Kasterlee's Pumpkin Market takes place on Sunday 18 October 2026. The municipality's official events calendar gives the hours as 10:00 to 17:30, on and around the Markt in the town centre. If you are planning an autumn outing for Saturday 17 October, this is therefore an event for the following day. It is more than a stall selling soup: the municipality lists over a hundred stalls, traditional crafts, music, children's activities and a weigh-in for the heaviest pumpkin. Together they turn the square into a place where the region presents itself to visitors for a day.

Here the pumpkin is a crop, an ingredient and a public spectacle at once. According to the municipality, stalls offer pumpkin dishes, regional drinks and other specialities. The weigh-in looks at a giant pumpkin from another angle: size, rather than taste, is the point. The municipality asks whether the heaviest entry will again exceed a thousand kilograms. That is the organiser's preview, not a result. Anyone looking for a winner's name or exact weight can read the results after the weigh-in.

Between the food and the pumpkins are demonstrations of woodturning, woodcarving and basket weaving. They give the market another pace. You can browse the stalls while stopping to watch work that demands time, tools and practice. The municipality also lists music and children's entertainment, but the overview page does not provide a detailed timetable for individual performances. An open-ended walk therefore makes sense: start at the Markt and decide on the spot which demonstration or activity deserves a longer stop.

The municipality lists admission at three euros per person, including a sheet of vouchers and entry into an hourly attendance raffle. The same page says payment is in cash only; children under twelve enter free. These are the published terms for the market, not prices for purchases at individual stalls. Bring cash for admission and revisit the municipal event page shortly before leaving in case anything changes. According to the municipality, the tourist information office at Markt 42 is open from 10:00 to 17:30.

Kasterlee also provides specific ways to arrive. De Lijn bus 490 runs between Geel and Turnhout; the municipality names Kasterlee Dorp as the stop for the market. Cyclists can park near entrances including Binnenpad, Geelsebaan and Retiesebaan. The municipality also lists parking within walking distance and accessible parking on Karekietstraat. Arriving by public transport or shared bicycle lets you begin the market walk without looking for a space nearby. Confirm journey times, shared-bike availability and current fares with the operators.

On Sunday 18 October, the programme centres on stalls, crafts and the weigh-in of the heaviest pumpkin. For a relaxed visit, choose one or two things to focus on, perhaps the weigh-in and craft demonstrations, and leave time to browse. The market also offers a chance to taste regional products and watch makers at work. The organiser supplies the date, location and conditions; the rest of the day is yours to discover. Keep the municipal events page handy before you travel in case the programme changes.