Aspropark Pumpkin Park 2026 near Gambarie d'Aspromonte: the 5th edition

Aspropark – Parco Avventura, Campo Forge · Reggio Calabria, Costa Viola, Calabria

18 October 2026 – 1 November 2026

Aspropark's Parco delle Zucche (Pumpkin Park), held at the Campo Forge adventure park a few minutes from Gambarie d'Aspromonte, reaches its fifth edition in 2026. After 4 and 11 October, four days are left: Sunday 18 and Sunday 25 October, Saturday 31 October and Sunday 1 November. There is a pumpkin patch where children pick a pumpkin, paint it and take it home, a themed area for photos, entertainment with dancing, games and face tattoos, and a different children's character every day (Masha and the Bear, Stitch, Bing, Super Mario). For lunch there is an adult tasting menu and a children's menu, plus a frittole menu on 18 October only. Prices have not been published; booking is compulsory and only by WhatsApp message to +39 346 621 0754 or +39 342 806 5010.

2026 dates and each day's mascot

The fifth edition of the Parco delle Zucche (Pumpkin Park) opened on Sunday 4 October and ends on Sunday 1 November 2026. There are six days in all: Sundays 4, 11, 18 and 25 October, Saturday 31 October (Halloween) and Sunday 1 November. The events programme of the municipality of Santo Stefano in Aspromonte lists the five Sundays; Saturday 31 October appears on the poster and on the event page of the Aspropark website.

Each day has a different cartoon character as guest. The park's website pairs mascots and dates as follows: Mickey Mouse on 4 October and Bluey on 11 October, both already past; Masha and the Bear on Sunday 18 October, Stitch on Sunday 25 October, Bing on Saturday 31 October and Super Mario on Sunday 1 November. If your children have a favourite, choose your day accordingly.

What to do: pumpkin patch, photos and entertainment

The heart of the event is the pumpkin patch, American style: you pick your pumpkin, paint it and take it home. Around it there is an autumn-themed area set up for family photos, and entertainers keep things going with dancing, games, pumpkin face tattoos and surprises for younger children.

On pumpkin days the rest of Aspropark stays open too, according to the event page: treetop adventure trails, a picnic area, mountain bike and e-bike hire, a playground, electric tractors, electric boats, archery and pony rides. Each attraction has its own age and height limits: the two baby trails, for example, are for children aged 3 and over and at least 100 cm tall, while tree climbing is for visitors aged 16 and over.

Tasting menu, children's menu and frittole on 18 October

For lunch the park offers an adult tasting menu and a children's menu. On Sunday 18 October only there is also a frittole menu: frittole is a traditional Calabrian dish of pork meat and rind slow-cooked in large pots.

The 2026 menus and their prices have not been published on the poster or the website: to find out, send a WhatsApp message to the same numbers used for booking. The Aspropark website also lets you book a table in the picnic area online in general (20 euros for a 10-seat table, 30 euros for a 20-seat table); 25 of the 36 tables have a shared barbecue spot, which cannot be reserved. For the pumpkin days, ask whether this option is available.

Booking, times and prices

Booking is compulsory and is done only by WhatsApp message to +39 346 621 0754 or +39 342 806 5010: the event page states that information is also given only through WhatsApp. The municipality's programme also lists +39 346 217 5880 for the park.

The Aspropark website gives the event times as 11am to 6pm; the park's general opening hours are 10am to 6pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 7pm on Sundays. No prices have been published: the sources do not say whether entry to the themed area is free or how much a pumpkin costs. It is best to ask everything in the same message you book with, giving your chosen date and the number of adults and children.

How to get to Aspropark in the Forge area

Aspropark lies in the Campo Forge area, in contrada Forge: the park describes itself as about five minutes from Gambarie d'Aspromonte, and the municipality's programme places it at località Forge, Gambarie. On the official website the location to enter in your sat nav is “Area Campo Forge, Contrada Forge - Bosurgi”: use this rather than the centre of Gambarie.

From Reggio Calabria and the A2 motorway (Gallico exit), drive up to Gambarie on the SS184 road that starts in Gallico. Gambarie lies above 1,300 metres: in late October it is much colder than on the coast and it gets dark early. For a day outdoors with children, bring jackets, closed shoes and perhaps a change of clothes, especially if they will be painting pumpkins.

Gambarie and Santo Stefano in Aspromonte: what to see

Gambarie is the mountain resort of the municipality of Santo Stefano in Aspromonte, inside the Aspromonte National Park. The heart of the village is Piazza Mangeruca, with its stone and glass fountain; a chairlift climbs to Monte Scirocco and waymarked trails lead towards the Maesano waterfalls, the summit of Montalto and the Sanctuary of Polsi. About 7 km away is the Cippo di Garibaldi, the spot where Giuseppe Garibaldi, wounded in 1862, was helped to rest beneath a large tree.

Santo Stefano in Aspromonte is the home town of the Romeo family of patriots: on 29 August 1847 the Italian tricolour flew in its square during the uprising against the Bourbons. On Sunday 1 November, from 7pm, the municipal programme lists “Saperi e Sapori d'Aspromonte” in the hamlet of Mannoli. For other events in the area, see the events calendar.

Frequently asked questions

When is the 2026 Aspropark Pumpkin Park?

The remaining days are Sunday 18 and Sunday 25 October, Saturday 31 October and Sunday 1 November 2026. The first two days, 4 and 11 October, have already taken place.

Where is Aspropark?

In the Forge area (Campo Forge), a few minutes from Gambarie d'Aspromonte. For your sat nav, the park's website gives “Area Campo Forge, Contrada Forge - Bosurgi”.

How do I book?

Booking is compulsory and only by WhatsApp message to +39 346 621 0754 or +39 342 806 5010. Information is also given only by message.

How much does it cost?

The 2026 prices have not been published: the sources do not say whether there is an entry fee for the themed area or how much the pumpkins and menus cost. Ask by WhatsApp when you book.

Which mascot is there each day?

Masha and the Bear on Sunday 18 October, Stitch on Sunday 25 October, Bing on Saturday 31 October and Super Mario on Sunday 1 November.

Can we have lunch at the park?

Yes: there is an adult tasting menu and a children's menu. On Sunday 18 October only, a frittole menu is also available.

What time does it open?

The Aspropark website gives the event times as 11am to 6pm; the park normally opens 10am to 7pm on Sundays and 10am to 6pm on Saturdays. Confirm the times by WhatsApp.

Are there other activities besides the pumpkins?

Yes: adventure trails, a picnic area, mountain bike and e-bike hire, a playground, electric tractors and boats, archery and pony rides stay open.

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