Last Updated on September 16, 2022 by Kimberly Stroh
Wondering if the Stone Mountain Pumpkin Festival is worth the ticket price? The annual event attracts thousands of visitors who want to play by day, enjoy some festive treats and see pumpkins glow by night. It’s become an Atlanta family fall tradition and young kids (even toddlers) love it too. If you’re making the trek to Stone Mountain, and want to make the most of your time, check out these BEST tips for visiting the Stone Mountain Park Pumpkin Festival with kids.
Stone Mountain Park is known for their amazing laser show, but the fun doesn’t stop when summer ends. The park transforms to highlight the best of fall – PUMPKINS! Don’t worry – it’s a family-friendly event and there’s nothing spooky or frightening.
The theme of the festival is “play by day and glow by night” so guests are encouraged to enjoy all of the wonderful attractions that the park offers regularly, during the day, with the added Halloween festivities at night! There’s something for all ages and the family is sure to have a good time.
Looking for more family-friendly Atlanta Halloween Events? Check out the Fernbank Woodland Spirits Event and Burt’s Pumpkin Farm in Dawsonville.
Stone Mountain Park Pumpkin Festival Tips
If you’re bringing younger kids to the park, be prepared by bringing a stroller. There’s plenty of walking and it can be a little bit hilly. I also recommend packing some water and wearing comfortable shoes. There’s also a good chance that you’ll have a longer walk from the car to the park. Be prepared for plenty of walking.
To take full advantage of your admission ticket, arrive early for the daytime attractions and stay for the glowing pumpkins. Families can stay all day long to enjoy their ticket. The Stone Mountain Pumpkin Festival with kids is a blast – but it can be tiring.
Stone Mountain Pumpkin Fest Tickets – Is It Worth The Price?
If you’re wondering if the price of Pumpkin Festival is worth it, absolutely! In my opinion, I think it’s one of the best Atlanta Halloween Events for the cost. You have access to the regular attractions by purchasing an Attractions Pass (or using your Membership) and everything festive for Halloween.
The festival hours are from 2 p.m. – 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. – 9 p.m. on Sundays.
The General Attractions Pass for this seasonal event is $39.95 for adults and $34.95 for children 3-11. Mountain Membership is the name of Stone Mountain Park’s annual pass, and it’s $59.95 for adults and $49.94 for kids.
Parking is $20 per day, or an annual parking pass is $40.
Pumpkin Festival Daytime Events
Younger kids will love the “play by day” experiences at the park. Experience all of the regular attractions, plus special limited-time fall entertainment offerings. The train ride, around the mountain, is even more spectacular in the fall with the color of foliage.
Fun fall decor and outdoor picture-book settings provide plenty of Instagram worthy spots. Discover an underwater marvel 20,000 leagues under the sea, catch a fairytale remix with Mother Goose, and join the 3 little pigs for an adventure on the scenic railroad.
My oldest loves the Dinotorium! If you have kids that love dinosaurs, this is a must-do attraction. It’s a walk-through experience that features 20 moving dinosaurs that roar, as kids learn about facts. Definitely see them during the day because they glow at night for Halloween.
Come with an empty stomach to enjoy some special fall treats – like cinnamon bread! Peter Peter’s Pie Eating Contest features fun and competitive pie eating before time runs out. See if you can beat the previous Pumpkin Festival record holder!
Lastly, before dark, don’t miss the Summit Skyride. It’s a high-speed Swiss cable car that provides a stunning view of the carving on the side of Stone Mountain. At the top, you can take pictures and enjoy Atlanta’s skyline.
Pumpkin Festival Glow By Night Attractions
Glow by night is an immersive experience, with tons of glow-in-the-dark and nighttime outdoor fun. Guests can explore amazing glowing throughout the festival including thousands of glowing lights, massive jack-o-lanterns, a giant glowing pumpkin tree, costumed characters, glow-in-the-dark mini-golf, and glow-in-the-dark dinosaurs.
What would be a visit to Stone Mountain Park without one of their parades? End the night with a glowing nighttime parade featuring themed floats and favorite storybook characters, dancing their way throughout the festival.
Here are the most recent additions to the Glow By Night portion of the festival:
- Enchanted Forest – glowing wonderland of towering trees and over-sized flowers
- Treasure Island – walk-through experience and hunt for buried treasure
- Glowing Dinotorium – the dinotorium dinosaurs glow alongside pumpkins
Stone Mountain Pumpkin Festival Halloween Laser Show
End your family outing with the perfect nighttime entertainment that Stone Mountain is famous for. Just for Halloween season, the Pumpkin Festival Laser Show. Grab a spot on the lawn and cozy up with a warm beverage on a cool fall night.
This brand-new, state-of-the-art light show celebrates all things Halloween with themed songs, an immersive canopy of lights, unique video, all-new special effects, and fireworks! It’s the best way to leave the park feeling in the Halloween spirit!
Where To Spend The Night At Stone Mountain Park
If you’re traveling from afar and want to spend the night at Stone Mountain Park, there are several lodging options available for families.
There’s the Inn at Stone Mountain Park, a 92-room historic replica of a Southern antebellum home. Which is great if you want a traditional hotel room.
For families, I would stay at the Atlanta Evergreen Marriott Conference Resort. This is a AAA 4-Diamond resort that features two pools, two championship golf courses, a day spa. They have more room options that would comfortably fit families.
Of course, there are also camping and RV options at Stone Mountain Park!
Don’t miss out on the Pumpkin Festival, because it’s worth the ticket cost and your kids are sure to have a great time. If you’re staying all day long for the day and nighttime festivities, just pack your patience. It can be a long day for the kids, but they’ll surely love the Stone Mountain Park Pumpkin Festival and it might even come a tradition for your family.