Patronal Feast of Saints Simon and Jude - Pumpkin Festival

The pumpkin, queen of the Lodigiano autumn

In Cornegliano Laudense, a small municipality in the province of Lodi nestled in the irrigated plain crossed by the Muzza canal, autumn has a specific color and scent: that of the pumpkin. Every October, the Pumpkin Festival, born from the Pro Loco's initiative and grown to become the most anticipated event in the town, transforms the Muzza hamlet into a showcase for the season's symbolic vegetable. In 2025, the event celebrated its twentieth edition.

From patronal feast to festival

The festival is closely linked to the patronal feast of Saints Simon and Jude, celebrated on October 28th, alongside the feast of Saint Calixtus. Over time, a popular festival has developed around these religious appointments, now spanning two weekends, taking place between the main town and the Muzza hamlet, with masses, civil events, and a long series of activities for all ages.

Giant pumpkins and the King of the Pumpkin

The heart of the event is the pumpkin competition: every year, local growers compete with monumental vegetables, with specimens exceeding one hundred kilograms. The most anticipated moment is the crowning of the "King of the Pumpkin", awarded to the largest pumpkin in the competition. Alongside the contest, the pumpkin is also the star in the kitchen, featured in typical dishes offered at the food stalls along Via Lodi, Via Roma, and Via Ada Negri.

A program for the whole town

The Pumpkin Festival is much more than a fruit and vegetable competition. The program includes dancing evenings with ballroom orchestras in the municipal gym, fireworks along the Muzza canal, craft and hobby markets, exhibitions, and activities for children, from walks to horseback rides, as well as sports tournaments, fashion shows, theatrical performances, and rallies of vintage motorcycles and bicycles. A collective celebration involving associations and the entire community of Cornegliano Laudense.

Heart of the lower Lodi region

Promoted by the Pro Loco of Cornegliano Laudense with the patronage and support of the Municipality, the Pumpkin Festival showcases the rural and hospitable soul of this corner of Lombardy. An authentic event to discover the Lodi plain, its products, and its people.