The 16th annual Autumn at the Arboretum, presented by Reliant, is upon us and we are excited to once again share 90,000 pumpkins, gourds and squash, hailing from THE pumpkin capital of Texas, Floydada, throughout the garden.
We are excited to share a NEW pumpkin village location just behind Jonsson Color Garden! Long-time visitors will likely remember our Lakeside Exhibit Area as the former home to Texas Pioneer Adventure. This year, the space is transformed into Bugtopia! Our signature display will come alive with larger-than-life insect topiaries, fascinatingly bugged-out pumpkin houses, and, of course, a maze for younger visitors.
Dallas Arboretum 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, Texas 75218 (214) 515-6615Dallas Gourd Patch
Thursdays from 10am–3pm
Near Café on the Green and Crepe Myrtle Allee
The Dallas Gourd Patch returns with weekly displays and demos of their spectacular squash art. Watch inspiring demonstrations by the Dallas Gourd Patch as gourds are transformed into jewelry and decorative homewares, available for guests to purchase.
Walk This Way
September 24 through October 29
Fridays from 10–11am in the Entry Plaza
Enjoy a tour around the garden featuring behind-the-scenes details, led by Denise and Max Davis, long-time Dallas Arboretum volunteers.
Sunday Gardener with Turn Compost
September 19–October 24
Sundays from 1–2pm in A Tasteful Place
Join us at this NEW series each Sunday as Turn Compost presents hands-on gardening topics you’re sure to implement at home!
Edible Landscaping for North Texas – September 19 & October 10
Want to learn what edible plants you can successfully grow and harvest in your urban yard throughout the year? This course shows you the best herbs and veggies that grow well in our hardiness zone during the warm (or cool) Texas months, along with tips and techniques for growth and harvesting.
A Dallas Chef’s Edible Garden – September 26 & October 17
One of the joys of cooking from home is being able to grow and harvest your own food for the process! Growing herbs and veggies suited for North Texas is easier than you think. Learn from the personal experiences of Lauren Clarke, Turn Founder (Dallas County Master Gardener and El Centro Culinary School Graduate). Her entire backyard is edible and produces food year-round for her family.
Urban Composting Basics – October 3 & 24
This general survey course covers the basics of how to create your own compost at home utilizing organic waste from inside and outside your urban environment. You learn an overview of soil biology, compost methodologies and techniques, and tips on usage and application in your home landscape.
Window to the Wild Bird Flight Show
October 10 at 10:30am
Martin Rutchik Concert Stage & Lawn
Join Window to the Wild for a 45-minute outdoor education flight training show, and learn which feathered friends are insect eaters! At the end of the show, come to the stage to meet and greet with the birds and their trainers.
Insect Encounters
Daily September 18–October 31
Pumpkin Village Insect Encounters Tent
Get up close and personal with six-legged friends every day during Autumn at the Arboretum. Experience the life of bugs through hands-on demos, expert talks, living specimens, beneficial bug releases, insect-inspired art and more!
Mondays and Tuesdays from 11am–1pm
Beneficial Insect Release: Kids will get their own chance to handle insects and release them to pollinate the Dallas Arboretum. While supplies last.
Wednesdays and Fridays from 11am–3pm
Native Invertebrate Explorations: Meet the Dallas Arboretum’s living collection including walking sticks and tarantulas
Thursdays from 11am–1pm
Bee Meet & Greet with Mother’s Garden
Weekends
September 18 & 19, 11am-3pm: Lucas Miller, Singing Zoologist Discovery Gardens
September 25 & 26, 10am-12pm: Samantha Peters, Graphic Artist, Dallas Zoo
October 2 & 3, 11am-3pm: Michael Cook: Silkworms, Silkmoths and Silk
October 9 & 10, 11am-3pm: Tim Brys, Perot Museum
October 10, 11am-3pm: Eric Brittingham, Wildlife on the Move
October 16 & 17, 11am-3pm: Randy Pena, Houston Museum of Natural Science
October 23, 11am-1pm: Samantha Peters, Graphic Artist, Dallas Zoo
October 24, 11am-1pm: John Watts, Entomologist, Texas
October 30 & 31, 11am-3pm: Lucas Miller, Singing Zoologist
National Coffee Day Celebration
September 29 from 10am–4pm in A Tasteful Place
Join our annual celebration of the world’s favorite roasted fruit: coffee! A Tasteful Place is filled with coffee-centric vendors to help you get your caffeine fix! Featured partners include East Side Soaps, Eataly, El Portón Coffee, Elevate Coffee Trading, Empire Baking, The Harvest Project, Hey Y’all Bakery, Hive Coffee Co., Honeychild Naturals, Kevin the Pie Dude, Leche De Café, Luca and Livvy Nitro Juices, Sand Castle Seasonings, Whiskey Morning Coffee and Yelibelly Chocolate.
Owl-O-Ween with Window to the Wild
October 23 from 12–2pm in Jonsson Color Garden
Join Window to the Wild for a meet and greet in our Pumpkin Village with their owls—Hermes, a great horned owl, and their tiniest, eastern screech owl, Pigwidgeon. They walk around for you to meet them, take up close and personal pictures with them and ask questions. You won’t want to miss this unique Owl-O-Ween opportunity.
Chicana in Nature Guided Hikes
September 25 & October 2 from 10–11am
Main Garden Entry Plaza
Join Susana Cruz, Chicana in Nature, for a guided hike through the Main Garden and explore the key role of insects in our environment.
Family Fun Weekend
October 8–10 from 10am–2pm
Bring the family to the Dallas Arboretum on Family Fun Weekend. Activities include face painting by A Fresh Perspective, the Country Critters Petting Zoo and more. Friday includes a zero-waste cooking demonstration with Turn Compost and a guided walk through the garden with volunteers Max and Denise. Saturday includes our Fall Vendor Market throughout A Tasteful Place and the Main Garden Entry Plaza. Sunday brings our beloved Window to the Wild bird show to the Martin Rutchik Concert Stage & Lawn at 10:30am. Saturday and Sunday both include live insect encounters throughout the day and afternoon concerts from 2-4pm with Monkey Love (Saturday) and Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Bluegrass Band (Sunday). Be sure to visit the Children’s Adventure Garden for hands-on insect investigations.
Fall Vendor Market
October 9 from 10am–3pm
A Tasteful Place and Main Entry Plaza
Join your favorite local vendors for a delectable array of fall treats and artisan gifts as your stroll the stunning fall blooming beauties and 90,000 pumpkins, gourds and squash. This farmer’s market style event is sure to spice up your season!
Church Hill Honey Vendor Sales
Saturdays & Sundays in October at A Tasteful Place
Enjoy a taste of pollinators in action with honey provided by Church Hill Honey. You can even buy a bottle to take home with you.
Dallas Gourd Patch Annual Show
October 15 from 10am–3pm in A Tasteful Place
Explore the Dallas Gourd Patch’s specular show featuring stunning carved, painted and embellished gourds. The group also sells these creations.
Halloweekend
October 30 & 31
Don’t miss the annual Halloween blowout weekend with trick-or-treating throughout the garden, pumpkin decorating, body art painting, a petting zoo and live music on the Martin Rutchik Concert Stage & Lawn, featuring Elevation on Saturday from 2pm-4pm and The Special Edition on Sunday from 2pm-4pm. Get your costumes out for our Dress Like a Bug contest on Saturday and Sunday for your chance to win tickets to Holiday at the Arboretum.