Photos courtesy of Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden
Low-tech fun: Pumpkins, Squash and Gourds, Oh, My!
Autumn at the Dallas Arboretum National Fall Festival is ongoing through Nov. 22, 2017, and open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For the 12th year, Autumn at the Arboretum includes the nationally acclaimed Pumpkin Village featuring pumpkin houses and creative displays using more than 90,000 pumpkins, gourds and squash along with hay bales and cornstalks. Themed "Pumpkins, Squash and Gourds, Oh My!", Pumpkin Village takes each visitor on a trip highlighting the beloved book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Guests travel through the Pumpkin Village on an actual yellow-brick road, spiraling through Pecan Grove with stops at each major occurrence in the story of Dorothy and her adventures in the "Land of Oz". Vignettes include "Auntie Em's house," the "Scarecrow's Garden," the "Enchanted Forest" with the "Tin Man" and "Cowardly Lion," "Munchkinland," "Emerald City" showcasing the carriage pulled by "A Horse of A Different Color," and the "Wicked Witch's Castle" including the Hay Bale Maze mimicking the castle walls. "Munchkinland" is also the home of the Tom Thumb Pumpkin Patch offering pumpkins for purchase and activities for the kids.
"Our visitors are going to love The Wonderful Wizard of Oz theme at the Pumpkin Village because many know this story. Our 50-member horticulture team goes to great lengths to create that 'wow' factor," said Dave Forehand, vice president of gardens for the Dallas Arboretum. "Last year, a quarter of a million people came to Autumn at the Arboretum, and we hope even more people will come see this amazing display".
How to win tickets to the Dallas Arboretum's Fall Festival*
Be the 10th person to contact UIT on social media:
on Facebook, like our page and add a post: UNT's University IT Help Desk is in Sage Hall, Room 330;" or
on Twitter, follow us and tweet "UIT now offers Remark® remote test-grading. #unt_uit".
*UIT staff members are not eligible.
On Oct. 3, the Dallas Arboretum opened a new year-round destination named A Tasteful Place, a garden designed in the center, to mirror an ornamental kitchen garden or "potager" as it is called by the French. The 3.5-acre addition is comprised of artfully arranged features, including a pavilion with event space and a teaching kitchen, an orchard, beds of ornamental display vegetables, herbs and flowers, and a lagoon. Check the website regularly for more updates, and a complete list of garden activities, including cooking classes, demonstrations, garden-to-table dinners, daily tastings, a hillside for picnicking and educational opportunities, where we will teach where food is grown.
"In addition to Autumn at the Arboretum, our guests will also have the opportunity to visit A Tasteful Place that aligns with the Arboretum's mission of promoting the beauty and knowledge of horticulture, while providing educational opportunities for knowing where and how our food is grown," said Mark Wolf, Dallas Arboretum board chairman.
View the Autumn at the Arboretum video.
Pumpkin Carver Weekend • NEW!
Saturday, Oct, 21 & Sunday, Oct. 22, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Martin Rutchik Concert Stage & Lawn
MasterPiece Pumpkins' Gene Granata carves pumpkins for all ages through live demonstrations. Purchase pumpkin carving kits in the Hoffman Family Gift Store and pumpkins at the Tom Thumb Pumpkin Patch.
Ghoul's Night Out • NEW
Wednesday, Oct. 18, 6-8 p.m., Crape Myrtle Allee
Join the Dallas Arboretum "Ghoul's Night Out," featuring fun activities such as palm readings, handwriting analysis and a caricature artist drawing guests in a "ghoul-y" fashion. No "Ghoul's Night Out" would be complete without wine, live music and food trucks. Wine will be available for purchase, and three food trucks will be on-site. Guests are also welcome to bring a picnic.
Family Fun Weekend
Saturday, Oct. 28 and Sunday, Oct. 29, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Celebrate Halloween with trick-or-treating throughout the garden, face painting, a petting zoo, and a magician in Pecan Grove. Guests are encouraged to bring their own trick or treat bag.
North Texas Gourd Association Demonstrations
Every Thursday in October, and Nov. 2, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Crape Myrtle Allee The North Texas Gourd Association creates items, such as jewelry and decorative accessories, with gourds.
National Pumpkin Day
Thursday, Oct. 26, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
There is no better place to celebrate National Pumpkin Day during the fall festival. Celebrate this holiday by indulging in pumpkin flavored foods at select dining areas; visit the website for more specific items.
Friday, Oct. 28-Sunday, Oct. 30, 6-9 p.m., $10 General Admission
Come in dressed in a Halloween costume for a spooky maze tour, glowing programs and a Halloween-themed Lab.
Día de Los Muertos • NEW • Wednesday, Nov. 1, 6-8 p.m.
Celebrate the "Day of the Dead" with activities located throughout the garden including, a face painting competition, a henna tattoo artist, a DJ, and mask-making. Wine and beer are available for purchase, along with three food trucks. Guests are welcome to bring picnics.
Día de Los Muertos Face Painting Competition
Guests are encouraged to paint their faces in the style of the holiday at home and then celebrate the Day of the Dead by entering a face painting competition. Judges assess all competitors present by 6:30 p.m. and the winner is announced at 7:30 p.m. First place gets a great, Mexican-themed gift basket. See website for full competition rules and details.
The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens is located on the southeastern shore of White Rock Lake at 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, Texas 75218. The Dallas Arboretum is also the home of the internationally acclaimed Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden.
Hours
The Arboretum is open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Tickets
General admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors 65 and older, $10 for children 3-12 and free for Arboretum members and children two and under. There is an additional cost of $3 per person for entrance into the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden.
Parking
On-site parking is $15; pre-purchased online parking is $8.
The Dallas Morning News is the principal partner of the Dallas Arboretum. The Arboretum is supported, in part, by funds from the Dallas Parks and Recreation Department. WFAA is an official media sponsor for the Dallas Arboretum.