Pumpkin Exhibition 2025: Halloween at the Prague Botanical Garden
Among the autumn-colored treetops, along the road on my way home, a giant, shameless billboard with a pumpkin kept following me. You know the kind – those loud roadside ads fighting for drivers’ attention. I was sure I was immune to this one. At first, the billboard only planted a tiny pumpkin seed of curiosity in me. But the next time I passed it, softened by the fall air and the sight of that bright orange squash, I actually read the sign beneath it: The Botanical Garden invites you to a pumpkin exhibition.
My coffee hadn’t even brewed yet, but the date of the event was already neatly penned into my calendar. And just like that, they caught me.
A Pumpkin Paradise and Family Fun for the Little Ones
This year, the Prague Botanical Garden in Troja hosted the 18th annual edition of its beloved pumpkin exhibition. From October 10 to November 2, 2025, much of the garden was transformed into a fairytale Haunted Forest – which also became the name of this year’s event.
Visitors admired not only the creative pumpkin displays but also elaborate Halloween-themed installations. The program was especially tailored for families with children: games and contests, craft workshops, snack stalls, and a glowing lantern parade through the garden after dark.
So, how did the exhibition turn out? How many pumpkins did I actually see? And what truly gave me chills? :o)
Autumn Magic and Students from a Gardening School
I set out for the exhibition hoping to add a few photos to my autumn collection and enjoy a quiet stroll through the garden dressed in its fall colors. Entering through the St. Clare’s Vineyard was a delight in itself. From the vineyard’s slopes, I admired the maze-like layout of the nearby Troja Chateau gardens glowing under the late-afternoon sun. Soon, though, my steps grew eager to follow the path toward the pumpkin displays in the Ornamental Garden and Woodland sections.
Along the way, little mounds of pumpkins revealed the path of the pumpkin trail. Colorful decorations mixed with natural elements celebrated every hue, shape, and beauty of autumn. The pumpkin arrangements were prepared by the garden’s horticulturists in collaboration with students from the Czech Gardening School in Mělník under the guidance of Petra Křížová. Among the pumpkins and fall blooms stood whimsical Halloween installations – fairy-tale creatures and all sorts of friendly ghosts peeking out from the trees.
The Haunted Forest Was… Truly Haunted
I won’t hide my disappointment. The Haunted Forest was, in some sense, genuinely haunting. With each step along the pumpkin path, the crowd grew thicker, the smoky scent of roasted sausages stronger, and the bass from late-’90s pop hits louder. That’s when it struck me – the heart of this event wasn’t quiet reflection on the beauty of autumn and the shapes of pumpkins, but rather a booming (and at times slightly tacky) Halloween party for kids.
Still, I didn’t let the crowds of chattering families and pastry-hungry children ruin the evening. I kept carving my way forward, grateful for every little corner of pumpkin art I could glimpse or photograph for a moment. And you know what? In the end, this lively – and, as daylight faded, even mysterious – atmosphere of masks, giggling children, and amused adults sipping mulled wine made me smile, too.
Things You Might Not Know About Halloween 🎃
Halloween wasn’t originally an American holiday.
The trick-or-treaters in spooky costumes and glowing carved pumpkins we associate with the U.S. actually trace their roots back over 2,000 years to the Celtic festival of Samhain – marking the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter in what is now Ireland and Britain.
The origin of the name “Halloween”
Ancient Celts believed that on the eve of All Saints’ Day, the boundary between the world of the living and the dead grew thin. To protect themselves from wandering spirits, they placed glowing lanterns in their windows. The holiday was called All Hallows’ Eve – which over time became simply Halloween.
Carving pumpkins – originally not pumpkins at all!
The tradition of carving scary faces into pumpkins wasn’t always about pumpkins. In the beginning, people used turnips or potatoes. It was only when Irish immigrants arrived in America that they discovered pumpkins – larger and easier to carve – and adopted them as the perfect symbol of Halloween: the Jack-o’-lantern.
The Irish legend of Jack
According to legend, a wicked man named Jack once tricked the devil himself. When he died, he was refused entry into both heaven and hell, condemned to wander forever in darkness. The devil gave him a single glowing coal, which Jack placed inside a hollowed turnip to light his way – hence Jack-o’-lantern, “Jack with the lantern.”
Czech Dušičky – our own day of remembrance
In the Czech Republic, we have All Souls’ Day on November 2 – a solemn occasion to remember our loved ones who have passed away. The spiritual meaning is quite similar to Halloween’s ancient roots, though ours is celebrated in a more reflective, rather than playful, way.
The Night Between Worlds
At the Halloween pumpkin exhibition, some children were screaming and running around as if Jack himself had possessed them. :o) Relieved, I left after dusk and walked home along the moonlit river. What a peaceful stillness had settled over everything! And yet… I didn’t feel entirely alone. From the dark bushes came faint whispers, one voice over another. What was it – birds, the wind, nature itself… or something between worlds?
From the silvery shimmer of the river came the familiar call of a robin. I moved closer and recognized its small silhouette among the branches above the water. What a magical night!
The robin, with its red breast, carries deep spiritual meaning. Some believe it’s a messenger between worlds – a sign from loved ones who have passed on, letting us know they still watch over us with love. How symbolic that a robin appeared on the eve of All Saints’ Day – guiding me safely home.
Sources:
botanicka.cz
praha.rozhlas.cz
Did you enjoy the exhibition? Are you planning to visit next year? And what does Halloween mean to you? 🎃🍁🕯️
