Days of Ludaja in Kikinda | Tourist Calendar of Serbia

Ludaja, pumpkin, squash, gourd - these are just some of the most common names for the well-known orange vegetable used to make the sweetest pies and whose seeds we passionately snack on during sports events and TV broadcasts.

However, its significance goes far beyond mere amusement because it is one of the healthiest products of nature, with beneficial effects on almost every organ in the human body.

Moreover, the pumpkin or squash, with its dimensions and shapes that can be truly incredible, represents one of the most attractive vegetable plants in nature, thus becoming a global inspiration for gastronomes and even artists - to the extent that it has long become a symbol of the so-called Halloween, a "holiday" particularly popular in America and Western European countries.

However, there is a unique event dedicated to the pumpkin or squash since 1986 in Kikinda, a small town in northern Banat. It is known as the Days of Ludaja, a festival that for over three decades, during its four-day duration, turns Kikinda into the European capital of giant pumpkins.

This locally-oriented event, initially conceived as a gastronomic gathering, quickly gained popularity throughout the region, becoming a grand celebration with a broad cultural and entertainment character. It attracts tens of thousands of visitors annually, mostly from Vojvodina, Hungary, and Romania.

Among the multitude of cultural and entertainment activities, the competition for the longest and heaviest pumpkin stands out. The record-breaking pumpkin weighing 507 kilograms was measured during the 29th Days of Ludaja in 2014, while the longest pumpkin measuring 294.5 centimeters was recorded last year in 2017.

The Days of Ludaja usually take place in the second half of September. During the four-day festival, various locations across the city, including City Square, National Museum, Cultural Center, "Jovan Popović" Public Library, "Terra" Gallery, and "Jezero" Sports Center, host a series of art and photo exhibitions, mini fairs, children's and creative workshops, performances, sports and gastronomic tournaments and competitions, pumpkin product tastings, while the evenings are reserved for concerts by popular folk, pop, and rock musicians.

This year's 37th edition of the Days of Ludaja will be held from September 15th to 18th. If you haven't had the opportunity to visit Kikinda and attend this authentic event, take advantage of the last days of summer for an exciting weekend trip to the north of Banat.