When I couldn't scrape together £80 for a trip to the local park with my kids to see some subpar Halloween decorations, and having failed for the fifth year in a row to secure tickets to a Scottish farm's spooky spectacle, I turned to a virtual alternative: Ghost Town Pumpkin Festival. This online event, first conceived during the 2020 pandemic when developer Adam Robinson-Yu's neighbourhood pumpkin festival was cancelled, has since become an annual tradition.
Created by Yu as a way for gamers to come together and explore a creepy micro-world filled with user-created pumpkins, the festival has evolved over the years. This year's additions included a haunted house escape room, which my kids and I took more than an hour to solve, and a movie theatre that screened eerie silent films for a virtual audience of none.
Throughout the virtual pumpkin patch, players can wander freely as ghostly avatars, taking in the surroundings and interacting with fellow players and user-generated pumpkins. From the creepy barns to the haunted house corridors, every surface is adorned with pumpkins – many of which are clever references to popular games like Hollow Knight and Majora's Mask.
One of the most surprising aspects of Ghost Town Pumpkin Festival was its depth and complexity. Beneath the obvious attractions, there were hidden secrets waiting to be uncovered by intrepid explorers. I spent an hour on my own exploring every nook and cranny, eventually stumbling upon a mysterious door hidden behind a popcorn counter, which led me to a bite-sized horror game that even my kids couldn't handle.
This virtual festival's advantages are numerous – no need to worry about overpriced concessions or soggy snacks. But what I didn't expect was the sheer amount of content waiting to be discovered. With its pay-what-you-want download option on itch.io, Ghost Town Pumpkin Festival is an absolute must-visit for anyone looking to spend Halloween with a new twist.
If you're itching for something spooky and fun this October, do yourself a favour and give Ghost Town Pumpkin Festival a try – just don't say I didn't warn you about the jump scares.
Created by Yu as a way for gamers to come together and explore a creepy micro-world filled with user-created pumpkins, the festival has evolved over the years. This year's additions included a haunted house escape room, which my kids and I took more than an hour to solve, and a movie theatre that screened eerie silent films for a virtual audience of none.
Throughout the virtual pumpkin patch, players can wander freely as ghostly avatars, taking in the surroundings and interacting with fellow players and user-generated pumpkins. From the creepy barns to the haunted house corridors, every surface is adorned with pumpkins – many of which are clever references to popular games like Hollow Knight and Majora's Mask.
One of the most surprising aspects of Ghost Town Pumpkin Festival was its depth and complexity. Beneath the obvious attractions, there were hidden secrets waiting to be uncovered by intrepid explorers. I spent an hour on my own exploring every nook and cranny, eventually stumbling upon a mysterious door hidden behind a popcorn counter, which led me to a bite-sized horror game that even my kids couldn't handle.
This virtual festival's advantages are numerous – no need to worry about overpriced concessions or soggy snacks. But what I didn't expect was the sheer amount of content waiting to be discovered. With its pay-what-you-want download option on itch.io, Ghost Town Pumpkin Festival is an absolute must-visit for anyone looking to spend Halloween with a new twist.
If you're itching for something spooky and fun this October, do yourself a favour and give Ghost Town Pumpkin Festival a try – just don't say I didn't warn you about the jump scares.
️ just had the most epic halloween experience ever 
i was skeptical at first but ghost town pumpkin fest is actually so cool 
its like a big ol virtual haunted house 
and the best part is its free 
they've got user generated pumpkins, haunted houses, escape rooms... everything 
65% of parents are now planning their Halloween celebrations around online festivals 
The rise of Ghost Town Pumpkin Festival is a clear indication that we're moving towards a more immersive and interactive entertainment experience 
Did you know that the festival's user-generated pumpkins have increased by 300% since 2020? 
The average playtime for players has also skyrocketed to over 3 hours per session! 
this Ghost Town Pumpkin Festival is actually super immersive! The attention to detail on those user-created pumpkins is insane 
and I love how there's always something new to find, even after multiple playthroughs. Plus, it's a great way to spend quality time with your fam without breaking the bank 
. Only downside: my gamer kid was SO scared by that one jump scare 
it's literally the perfect way to celebrate Halloween without breaking the bank or having to deal with all the crowds and noise 
and I love that it's free too 
the level of detail in this thing is insane btw 
every surface is covered in pumpkins and it's like stepping into a whole new world 
and I'm definitely gonna check out that horror game my kids can't handle 
. What really impressed me, though, was how immersive it felt... I swear, I almost jumped out of my seat when those jump scares hit 
. All in all, this is a total game-changer (pun intended) for anyone looking for a spooky Halloween experience without the hassle. Give it a try! 
I love that it's all about exploring and discovering new stuff - it's like a digital treasure hunt! The idea of user-generated pumpkins is so cool too... I'm definitely gonna have to check it out with my friends. And yeah, no soggy snacks or overpriced concessions there! 
but then i stumbled upon this amazing virtual festival & OMG it's SO COOL!!! 
i felt like a kid in a candy store explorin' every nook & cranny 
Adam Robinson-Yu's a genius in my book! 
And don't even get me started on the 'share your own pumpkin' feature... I mean, come on, can we just have a more seamless upload process? It's still so finicky! 
