Arsenal star Declan Rice visits Europe’s largest pumpkin festival as new Sussex attraction opens
Declan Rice has returned to Tulleys Pumpkin Festival, with the famous farm revealing he has been visiting for ten years.
The farm in Turners Hill, near Crawley, shared a photograph of the Arsenal and England footballer – alongside owners Stuart and Sam Beare – during his latest visit in October 2026.
Tulleys’ social media post read: “A familiar face back at the farm!
"Great to welcome Declan Rice back to Tulleys Pumpkin Festival!
“Declan has been visiting us for ten years and has become a good friend of the farm along the way.”
His return comes as the attraction celebrates its biggest addition yet – Pumpkin Valley, a landscaped area featuring streams, ponds, wooden bridges and giant pumpkin sculptures.
The festival, described by Tulleys as Europe’s largest, opened on Saturday, September 19. It covers more than 100 acres of West Sussex countryside, with more than 1.5 million pumpkins and gourds spanning over 100 varieties.
Months of work went into creating Pumpkin Valley, which also includes a Pumpkin Farm House and Hobbit House surrounded by pumpkins and seasonal planting.
Stuart Beare, owner of Tulleys Farm, said: “Seeing the Pumpkin Valley full of visitors for the first time over opening weekend was a really proud moment for everyone here.
“This is the biggest addition we have ever made to the Pumpkin Festival. We wanted to create a completely new part of the event rather than simply adding another display.
“A huge amount of work has gone into the landscaping, buildings, bridges, water and planting. It has been months in the making, so finally seeing families walking through it and enjoying the space has been brilliant.
“The Pumpkin Festival has changed enormously over the years. People still come to pick their pumpkins, but for many families it has become a full day out and an annual fall tradition.”
Pumpkin picking remains at the heart of the festival, with visitors able to explore the Pick Your Own fields and Pumpkin Village.
Other attractions include more than 30 photo installations, roaming musicians, street theatre and a 33-metre Observation Wheel overlooking the fields and surrounding countryside. Seasonal food and drink are also available.
The festival has grown considerably from its pumpkin-picking roots and now attracts visitors from across the UK and further afield.
The farm also hosts its separately ticketed Pumpkin Nights event, with illuminated displays, pumpkin picking, woodland walks, two undercover live music stages and seasonal food and drink.
For the first time this year, Pumpkin Valley is also open to evening visitors.