National Pumpkin Day – October 26, 2026

Updated on Jun 11, 2026 in Food & Beverage by Vincent Mabutas

National Pumpkin Day
Categories:
Tags:
Food
Where:
United States
Date change rule:
Every October 26
Holiday emoji:
🎃

National Pumpkin Day celebrates the iconic autumn gourd every October 26. From decorative jack-o’-lanterns to delicious pies and lattes, pumpkins symbolize the harvest season. Embrace the festive spirit by carving, cooking, or simply enjoying pumpkin-flavored treats!

Want to sponsor National Pumpkin Day? Learn how

Expected National Pumpkin Day Deals

While we wait for official 2027 promotions to drop, history shows National Pumpkin Day often brings seasonal deals. Expect major coffee chains like Starbucks and Dunkin’ to feature their pumpkin spice lattes. Grocery stores such as Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods Market typically offer discounts on fresh pumpkins, canned purée, and a variety of pumpkin-flavored products. Bakeries like Panera Bread may highlight pumpkin muffins and scones, while specialty food retailers like Williams-Sonoma might showcase gourmet pumpkin mixes and tools. Keep an eye out for seasonal decor sales at stores like Target and HomeGoods. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as October 26 approaches.

Platform Guide for National Pumpkin Day

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #NationalPumpkinDay. Share your carved pumpkins, favorite pumpkin recipes, or festive fall decor.

TikTok

Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #NationalPumpkinDay. Film a time-lapse of carving a jack-o’-lantern or a quick tutorial for a pumpkin-themed snack.

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #NationalPumpkinDay. Post photos of your family’s visit to a pumpkin patch or your best pumpkin pie recipe.

Social Media Tips for National Pumpkin Day

Individuals

Visit a local pumpkin patch to pick your perfect pumpkin for carving or baking. Experiment with a new pumpkin recipe, like roasted pumpkin seeds or a savory pumpkin soup.

Creators

Create content showcasing the versatility of pumpkins, from DIY decor tutorials to taste tests of various pumpkin-flavored products. Share tips for zero-waste pumpkin use after carving.

Brands

Launch a limited-time pumpkin-themed product or menu item. Host a virtual pumpkin carving contest with prizes, encouraging user-generated content and engagement.

Top Brands for National Pumpkin Day

  1. Starbucks

    Founded in Seattle in 1971, Starbucks is the world's largest coffeehouse chain. Their Pumpkin Spice Latte, introduced in 2003, has become a global phenomenon and a quintessential symbol of autumn.

  2. Trader Joe's

    Established in 1967 in Pasadena, California, Trader Joe's is known for its unique and affordable grocery items. Each fall, the store introduces an extensive line of pumpkin-flavored products, from snacks to baking mixes.

  3. Libby's

    Libby's, a brand owned by Nestlé, has been a staple in American kitchens for over a century, particularly for its canned pumpkin. Their pumpkin purée is a go-to ingredient for countless Thanksgiving and fall recipes.

  4. Bath & Body Works

    Founded in 1990 in New Albany, Ohio, Bath & Body Works is a popular retailer of personal care and home fragrance products. They release a highly anticipated collection of pumpkin-scented candles, soaps, and lotions every autumn.

  5. Whole Foods Market

    Founded in 1978 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market is a leading natural and organic food supermarket. During the fall, they offer a wide selection of organic pumpkins, gourds, and seasonal produce, alongside specialty pumpkin-infused items.

  6. The Great Pumpkin Patch

    Located in Arthur, Illinois, The Great Pumpkin Patch is one of the largest and most famous pumpkin farms in the Midwest. It offers a vast selection of pumpkins, gourds, and squash, along with family-friendly fall activities.

  7. Williams-Sonoma

    Founded in 1956 in Sonoma, California, Williams-Sonoma is a high-end retailer of kitchenware and home furnishings. They offer gourmet pumpkin-flavored foods, baking mixes, and elegant serving pieces perfect for fall entertaining.

National Pumpkin Day Hero

Amelia Simmons

Amelia Simmons was the author of 'American Cookery,' published in 1796, which is widely considered the first American cookbook. Her work included some of the earliest recorded recipes for pumpkin pie, solidifying the gourd's place in American culinary traditions and making it a beloved dessert for generations.

History of National Pumpkin Day

Pumpkins are a member of the gourd family, which includes cucumbers, honeydew melons, cantaloupe, watermelons and zucchini. Most people don’t realize they are fruits — not vegetables. These plants are native to Central America and Mexico, but now grow on six continents. Their history in North America goes back 5,000 years.  
 
Pumpkins are indigenous to the Western Hemisphere. As Frenchman Jacques Cartier explored the St. Lawrence region of North America in the 1500s, he reported finding what the French called “gros melons.” The name was translated into English as “pompions,” which has since evolved into the modern “pumpkin.”
 
We use pumpkins for both food and recreation — especially during Halloween and Thanksgiving.. Pumpkin pie has become a traditional part of Thanksgiving in both the U.S. and Canada. We also carve jack-o’-lanterns around Halloween, although the pumpkins we eat and the ones we carve generally come from two different types of winter squash. (Note: A gourd is generally considered inedible squash.) Remember — gourds get funny faces. Squash winds up on the dinner table.
 
The Halloween connection dates back to the 1800s.  The term “jack-o’-lantern” first appeared in 1837, while the idea of a carved pumpkin, specifically, originated in 1866.
 
Farmers generally plant pumpkins in early July. The fruit (yes, fruit) requires soil that holds water well. Crops suffer if there’s either a lack of water or unusually chilly temperatures. Still, pumpkins are rather durable and can regrow damaged vines if necessary.
 
Even pumpkin seeds are a popular snack. Grocery stores often sell them both hulled and semi-hulled. They’re a good source of  protein, magnesium, copper, and zinc.

National Pumpkin Day timeline

1900
Sorry Halloween, Thanksgiving was first

A published article on celebrating Thanksgiving recommends a lit jack-o'-lantern as part of the festivities. The writer also encourages kids and families to join together to make their own jack-o'-lanterns. (The U.S. did not fully embrace Halloween until the 1920s.)

2003
Fall’s official drink

Starbucks exec Peter Dukes, who arrived at the company with a BA in Economics and an MBA from Stanford, comes up with a new idea for a fall espresso flavor. As it happens, Dukes and his former Cardinal basketball teammates used to alternate sips of espresso with bites of pumpkin pie. Do you see where we're going here? Starbucks has now sold more than 350 million pumpkin spice lattes in 50 countries.

2009
Pumpkins pummeled

Heavy rain in Illinois devastates the pumpkin crop just one year after a relatively weak 2008 crop. The combination results in a shortage affecting the entire country during the Thanksgiving holiday season. Another shortage, somewhat less severe, affected the 2015 crop.

2019
Pumpkin-palooza

Per Boston television station WBZ, Connecticut resident Alex Noel sets a new record for the heaviest pumpkin at the annual Topsfield Fair in Massachusetts. The pumpkin, which weighed in at just over one ton, earned the grower a whopping $8,000. Now that’s scary.

National Pumpkin Day FAQs

When is National Pumpkin Day?

National Pumpkin Day 2026 is observed on Monday, October 26, celebrating the versatile gourd just ahead of Halloween festivities.

How many pumpkins are grown in the U.S. annually?

The U.S. produces approximately 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkins annually, with Illinois leading the nation in production, primarily for processing into purée.

What are the most popular uses for pumpkins?

Pumpkins are most popularly used for carving jack-o’-lanterns for Halloween, baking pies and other desserts, and creating seasonal beverages like pumpkin spice lattes.

Are pumpkins a fruit or a vegetable?

Botanically, pumpkins are classified as a fruit because they develop from the flower’s ovary and contain seeds, similar to tomatoes and cucumbers.

National Pumpkin Day Activities

  1. Try a new recipe at home

    Try a new way of preparing pumpkin today! Never had a roasted spicy pumpkin soup? What about a pumpkin smoothie? How about pickled pumpkin with cinnamon. Try making your own!

  2. Bake a pie, bread, or scone

    Ok, so most of the time pumpkin pies are baked around the holidays, but don't let that limit you: there are no rules as to when you can enjoy a delicious slice of pumpkin pie. But if you do think that pie belongs to Thanksgiving or Christmas only, try another pumpkin-baked treat! Pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin scones?

  3. Carve a Pumpkin

    Enjoy some traditional October pumpkin fun. Think of your favorite cartoon character, slogan, or image and have fun carving it into a pumpkin. Print out your design and use a toothpick to poke small dots into your pumpkin to transfer the design and get carving!

Why We Love National Pumpkin Day

  1. Eating pumpkins is good for your health

    Did you know that the potassium in pumpkins can have a positive effect on blood pressure? Eating a diet high in fiber, potassium, and vitamin C (all of which pumpkins have), is also associated with a reduced risk of stroke, protection against loss of muscle mass, preservation of bone mineral density, and reduction in the formation of kidney stones. In addition, the antioxidants and vitamins in pumpkins could prevent degenerative damage to the eyes.

  2. Pumpkins are delicious

    Pumpkins are an amazingly versatile fruit, they can be used in sweet, savory, spicy, or salty dishes! You can bake them, boil them, steam them, puree them, even fry them. With so many ways to prepare pumpkins, and so many flavors you can add to them, there is guaranteed to be a way that appeals to everyone.

  3. Pumpkins are fun to carve

    Everyone loves carving pumpkins, and to top it off, it’s a great way to have fun with the kids. Invite your neighbors over, invite your friends over and have a pumpkin-carving party.

National Pumpkin Day dates

Year Date Day
2026 October 26 Monday
2027 October 26 Tuesday
2028 October 26 Thursday
2029 October 26 Friday
2030 October 26 Saturday
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