Photo courtesy of the Dallas Arboretum.
On Sept. 17, the Dallas Arboretum launched its 17th-annual fall festival, Autumn at the Arboretum.
This year’s theme is “A Fall Fairy Tale,” and the gardens will display pumpkin sculptures representing stories like Cinderella and Jack and the Beanstalk. In addition to the 100,000 gourds on display, the arboretum is hosting a series of free-to-attend seasonal events.
Weekly events
On Mondays at 11 a.m., Dallas College alum Chastity Alexander offers a cooking class featuring seasonal ingredients.
On Tuesdays at 11 a.m., the arboretum will feature a new florist every week to demonstrate how to make fall-themed floral arrangements.
On Wednesdays at 10 a.m., Dallas Arboretum volunteers lead a guided tour of the pumpkin patch and teach about the varieties of pumpkin on display.
On Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Dallas Gourd Patch, a group of local gourd artists, provide gourd art demonstrations and sell their finished products.
Thursdays also feature a “What’s in Bloom Walk” at 1 p.m. led by a horticulturist.
Single-time events
On Oct. 21, the Dallas Gourd Patch will hold its annual show at the arboretum. Artists will display carved, painted and otherwise decorated gourds available for sale.
On Oct. 1 and Oct. 16, Window to the Wild, a bird rehab nonprofit, will hold an educational flight show featuring several species of birds.
On Oct. 1, the arboretum will celebrate International Coffee Day by hosting 13 different local coffee vendors.
On Oct. 1-2, Country Critters Farm, a petting zoo based in Alvarado, will bring three piglets for a Three Little Pigs-inspired photo op.
On Oct. 8, the arboretum will host a miniature pumpkin stacking competition. There will be a separate bracket for children and adults, and the prize is concert tickets.
On Oct. 22-23, the arboretum will celebrate Diwali by featuring Indian classical dance and henna artists, along with pottery, crafts and food available for sale.
On Oct. 29-30, the arboretum will have its annual Halloweekend celebration, featuring trick-or-treating, a petting zoo and a costume contest.
For more information on daily programming, visit the Dallas Arboretum’s website.
