With the welcome change of seasons comes one of “America’s Best Pumpkin Festivals” according to Fodor’s Travel and one of the Dallas Arboretum’s most anticipated events—Autumn at the Arboretum—which opens on September 19 and continues through November 25, 2015. Autumn at the Arboretum is supported by Alliance Data and Texas Instruments.
The highlight of the festival is the nationally acclaimed Pumpkin Village, which is created with more than 75,000 pumpkins, gourds and squash by the talented horticulture team. Dave Forehand, Vice President of Gardens, said, “As we say, ‘Everything is bigger in Texas.’ This is a record-breaking number for the Arboretum’s Autumn display, so it is only fitting to recreate an Old Texas Town in the Pecan Grove.
“Cinderella’s carriage returns with thousands of pumpkins, hay bales and cornstalks artfully arranged throughout Pecan Grove, creating a popular photo opportunity for visitors.”
Forehand added, “Fall is one of my favorite seasons at the Arboretum. Many of the summer flowers like zinnias, impatiens, salvia and coleus respond to cooler nights with blazing bursts of color. Our thousands of pumpkins bring out the color in banks of chrysanthemums that are layered with ornamental grasses, copper plants and firebush.”
Autumn is the perfect time of year for a picnic in the gardens or a leisurely walk among 150,000 fall-blooming flowers. The fall foliage, cooler weather and deep colors make Autumn at the Arboretum a must-see for locals and out of town visitors. Guests will find unlimited opportunities not only to create lasting memories, but also to capture them in photos filled with beautiful backdrops of spectacular color.
A myriad of activities take place throughout the garden on weekdays and weekends during the festival:
Tour des Fleurs:
The 10th Annual Tour des Fleurs, presented by W. B. Carrell Memorial Clinic, kicks off the opening of Autumn at the Arboretum on Saturday, September 19. This 10/20K race around the beautiful White Rock Lake starts at 7 a.m. and is followed by a post-race celebration touted by runners as “Dallas’ best after race party at the Dallas Arboretum.” The community is invited to bring and donate their gently-used sneakers September 14-18 to receive $5 off general garden admission, benefitting the Dallas Shoe Bank.
Visit www.tourdesfleurs.com for information and registration.
Dallas Arboretum’s Nationally Acclaimed Pumpkin Village:
Daily, September 19 – November 25, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sponsored by Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake
The Pumpkin Village features a record number of 75,000 pumpkins, gourds and squash including the Tom Thumb Pumpkin Patch (pumpkins available for purchase), Old Texas Town Houses (made of pumpkins), Great Pumpkin Search, Hay Bale Maze and Cinderella’s Carriage in the Pecan Grove.
Harvest Tea:
Mondays – Fridays, September 21 – November 25, 11 a.m. & 2 p.m.
Restaurant DeGolyer
Tea service begins with a demitasse of select soup, followed by a second course of assorted tea sandwiches and a third course of sweet treats. Price includes general garden admission. Reservations are required. Seated Tea is available to guests 13 and older. Cost is $47 per person and $57 per person for champagne tea. Private tea service and teas for over eight people are available upon request. To make reservations, contact 214-515-6511 or teas@dallasarboretum.org.
Kimberly-Clark Mommy & Me Mondays and Tiny Tot Tuesdays:
Mondays & Tuesdays, September 21 – November 24, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Sponsored by Kimberly-Clark
Pecan Grove
For moms, grandparents, caregivers and their children, these special days include a petting zoo, nature crafts, face painting and Kindermusik.
$1 off General Garden Admission presented by Tom Thumb:
September 19 – November 25
Tom Thumb offers $1 off general garden admission tickets during Autumn at the Arboretum. Discounted tickets will be available to purchase at area Tom Thumb locations when the festival begins.
Buy One, Get One Free (BOGO) Wednesdays:
September 23 – November 25
Buy one, get one free admission. Valid for general garden admission only. Limit one per customer. Tickets can only be purchased onsite.
Free Garden Tours:
Wednesdays & Saturdays, September 23 – November 21, 11 a.m.
Entry Plaza
C.C. Young Senior Thursdays:
September 24-November 19
General admission tickets on these Thursdays are $11 for those 65 and older along with a 20% discount that day at the Hoffman Family Gift Store. Tickets can only be purchased onsite.
September 24, October 22 & November 5, 9 a.m.–11 a.m.
Presented by C.C. Young, these days feature special activities for the senior community.
Oktoberfest Garten:
Daily, September 19 – November 25, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Celebrate autumn with mittagessen (that’s lunch, in German) at Café on the Green, serving a traditional German menu until Thanksgiving.
Piano Melodies by Keith Schmorr:
Daily, September 19 – November 25, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
The Dann Talley Kinchloe Courtyard
Garden Melodies:
Weekends, September 19 – November 22, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Martin Rutchik Concert Lawn
Live Music
Spanish Guitar, Recognizable Classics
Saturdays, September 19 – November 21, 12 p.m.-4 p.m.
Sundays, September 20 – November 22, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.
Woolf Circle
Yoga for Members
Saturdays, September 26 – October 31
7:30 a.m.-8:30 a.m.
“Golden Hours” Photography
Wednesdays, September 2, October 7 & November 4
6 p.m.-8 p.m.
Non-members $10, Members, $7
Back by popular demand, the main gardens are open for special after-hours enjoyment and photography. The event is intended for amateur photographers, portraits and hobbyists. Professional photo shoots require pre-arrangements with the sales office.
Monarch Madness Weeks at the Dallas Arboretum
First Weeks of October
Destined for the warmer climates of Mexico, the monarch’s annual overwintering takes them on a 3,000 mile journey deep in the heart of Texas. Specially planted salvia in the main gardens attract these regal and recognizable pollinators to the Arboretum. The Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden, a Certified Monarch Waystation, also celebrates and studies the Monarchs this fall.
Monarch Migration Day
October 3 & 10, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Monarch Migration Activities take place on the Moody Oasis, a rooftop garden in the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden that is filled with plants that attract butterflies. A face painter is available to paint butterfly faces on children. Special thanks to the Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge and the Texas Discovery Gardens for helping with this fun and educational day.
Columbus Day Weekend Festivities:
October 10 & 11, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Children’s Activities in the Pecan Grove include crafts, face painting and more.
October 12, 11 a.m. & 2 p.m.
Children’s concerts by Eddie Coker are sponsored by DallasChild on the Martin Rutchik Concert Stage & Lawn. Guests are invited to listen to live music overlooking the picturesque White Rock Lake while enjoying a picnic on the lawn.
Book Reading by Patricia Vermillion
October 10, 1 p.m.-3 p.m.
As a part of the holiday weekend, Patricia Vermillion, local author of Texas Chili? Oh My!, reads her festive children’s book, The Three Little Pigs – Texas style! Meet Bluebonnet, Mockingbird and Sweet-Olive, three little armadillos, as they leave Mamadillo’s home and build their own dens out of native Texan materials.
Family Fun Weekend:
Saturday & Sunday, October 24 & 25, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Trick-or-treat throughout the gardens with costumed characters and other family fun activities. Children are encouraged to wear festive costumes.
Cool Thursdays Concerts:
Dallas’ premier outdoor concert series, presented by Wells Fargo, resumes in the fall with China Grove, a Doobie Brothers all star tribute band, on September 3 and runs through October 29 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. All concerts feature popular DFW food trucks. To purchase tickets and for more information, visit http://www.dallasarboretum.org/visit/seasonal-festivals-events/cool-thursdays-concert-series.
Speakers Bureau:
For those wanting to have a representative come to their club or organization to share about Autumn at the Arboretum or another topic, contact the Dallas Arboretum speakers bureau at speakers@dallasarboretum.org.
Sponsors:
Autumn at the Arboretum is made possible by Alliance Data and Texas Instruments.
Additional sponsors include:
C.C. Young (Senior Thursdays Sponsor)
Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake (Pumpkin Village Sponsor)
Tom Thumb (Pumpkin Patch Sponsor)
Kimberly-Clark (Mommy and Me Mondays and Tiny Tot Tuesdays Sponsor)
Northern Trust (Pumpkin House Sponsor)
Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate (Pumpkin House Sponsor)
Macy’s (Pumpkin House Sponsor)
Mutual of Omaha Bank (Pumpkin House Sponsor)
Land Rover Dallas (Automobile Sponsor)
Experian (Cinderella’s Carriage Sponsor)
For more information on Autumn at the Arboretum or any of the events, call 214.515.6500 or visit http://www.dallasarboretum.org/visit/seasonal-festivals-events/autumn-at-the-arboretum.