For many, truly experiencing fall means enjoying a delicious pumpkin spice latte and strolling through one of the city’s lovely pumpkin festivals. Fortunately, Berlin has quite a few to offer. But what if we don’t just want to admire the pumpkins—we also want to take them home —for a warming soup, homemade pumpkin pie, or as autumnal decorations? Well, there are actually places in Berlin where you can harvest them yourself right from the field. A particularly wonderful opportunity to do so is coming up this weekend: The 2026 Harvest Festival at Domäne Dahlem takes place on October 3 and 4. On both days, the historic estate opens its gates from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Domäne Dahlem is located at Königin-Luise-Straße 49 in Berlin-Dahlem and combines a museum with an organic farm that’s still in operation today. Market festivals have a long tradition here and have been held for more than 40 years. The big highlight of the Harvest Festival is the chance to harvest organic pumpkins yourself right in the field. On Saturday and Sunday, visitors can head out to the field between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to pick out their own pumpkins, while supplies last. The pumpkins you harvest yourself cost 3 euros per kilogram. There are various varieties to choose from, such as Hokkaido, butternut, spaghetti squash, Sweet Dumpling, Futsu Black, and the strikingly shaped Trombetta di Albenga. There are also ornamental pumpkins and other varieties.
In addition to pumpkins, visitors can even dig up organic potatoes themselves. These cost 2.50 euros per kilogram and can also be harvested between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. To harvest, you can get a harvest bag at the edge of the field for a deposit of about 2 euros. You collect the pumpkins or potatoes you want in the bag and then pay directly at the cash registers at the edge of the field. Afterward, you can transfer your harvest to your own bags and return the deposit bag.
In addition to the self-harvesting, visitors can look forward to a wide-ranging fall program at the historic estate. This includes a fall market, organic cuisine featuring seasonal dishes, a decorated harvest wagon, and a look inside the storage barn with historic farm machinery. There are numerous additional activities, especially for families. For example , visitors can take carriage rides across the estate, experience a historic juice press, play can toss, walk on stilts, or participate in face painting for kids. There will also be theater performances, a children’s reading lounge, candle rolling, arts-and-crafts activities, and a “mud lab” where children can experiment with dirt and water. Additionally, visitors can craft fall-themed figures from natural materials or work with straw. The interactive permanent exhibition “From Field to Plate” is also open to the public.
Admission to the Harvest Festival costs 4.50 euros for adults and 2 euros for reduced-rate tickets. Children under twelve get in free. There are small additional fees for some activities. For example, carriage rides and face painting each cost 2 euros. The pumpkins and potatoes you harvest yourself are also paid for separately by weight.
Domäne Dahlem is located in Berlin’s Steglitz-Zehlendorf district and is easily accessible by public transportation . The easiest way to get there is by taking the U3 to Dahlem-Dorf. From the station, it’s just a few minutes’ walk to the estate. Bus lines M11, X83, and 110 also serve the area.
