The Dallas Arboretum welcomes autumn with open arms with their fall festival, The Art of the Pumpkin, that runs from September 19 through November 1. 

2020 marks the 15th year that the Dallas Arboretum has opened the nationally-acclaimed Pumpkin Village featuring multiple structures and displays created from over 90,000 pumpkins, squash and gourds from Floydada, Texas, along with over 150,000 autumn flowers. Online ticket reservations are required; reserve your spot at the Arboretum’s website. Masks are required for all indoor spaces and recommended to wear when coming within 6 feet of others while in the garden.

Photograph by Jessica Cross.

Along with the opening of the festival, the Arboretum announced the return of Mommy and Me Mondays, Tiny Tot Tuesdays, a hay bale maze, a pumpkin patch with pumpkins for purchase, live music each weekend and more. Children’s activities include painted body art by A Fresh Perspective, Fit4Mom White Rock Dallas Stroller Fitness at 10am and Kindermusik at noon. New safety precautions and socially distanced rules will be in place for all of these activities.

Photograph by Jessica Cross.

Photograph by Jessica Cross.

Learn floral arranging tips from local Dallas flower shops on September 29, October 13 and 27 at 11 a.m. with the Arboretum’s Tasteful Tuesdays. On Mondays through October 26, from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., join guests and volunteers for a walking class around the garden.

Photograph by Jessica Cross.

Vice President of the Gardens, Dave Forehand, has kept folks informed of all the varieties of plants and floral displays during the pandemic with his weekly Facebook videos. He will join guests for similar plant discussions at A Tasteful Place October 2, 9, and 23 at 11 a.m. for Fridays with Dave.

Photograph by Jessica Cross.

Photograph by Jessica Cross.

Every Thursday through October 29 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., you can attend Pumpkin Thursdays Scavenger Hunt. Just grab a map from the information booth and begin your scavenger hunt to find interesting surprises hidden around pumpkin village. Complete the hunt and turn in your card at the info booth to get a ticket (to be redeemed by 4 p.m.) for a brownie at the Terrace Café.

Photograph by Jessica Cross.

A Tasteful Place, the 3.5-acre food, herb and vegetable garden, is also open and hosting weekly activities like free Monday cooking demonstrations with Dallas College Cooks along with other cooking, floral and horticulture demonstrations. Dallas College Cooks Classes take place every Monday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at A Tasteful Place. Two new recipes are featured each month.

Photograph by Jessica Cross.

Photograph by Jessica Cross.

Photograph by Jessica Cross.

The Chef-tastic Cooking Series will take happen at a Tasteful Place where participants can enjoy a cooking demonstration from renowned chefs and sample their work. the series runs until November 7 on select dates.

Photograph by Jessica Cross.

Photograph by Jessica Cross.

Each weekend features live bands playing on the Martin Rutchik Concert Stage, viewable on the concert lawn every Saturday and Sunday from 2 – 4 p.m. The lawn will be socially distanced and

Here’s the line-up:

• October 3 – TBA Band
• October 4 – Marc Touissant Combo
• October 10 – Mountain Natives
• October 11 – The Closers
• October 17 – Sierra Leone (performance by SMU Mustang Mavericks)
• October 18 – Missing Three
• October 24 – For Love of Country
• October 25 – The Closers
• October 31 – Missing Three
• November 1 – Cool Side of Easy

Photograph by Jessica Cross.

Photograph by Jessica Cross.

Each Thursday from September 24–October 29, the Arboretum will be open until 8 p.m. so guests can enjoy dusk in the gardens on Twilight Thursdays.

Photograph by Jessica Cross.

To get more information on the Art of a Pumpkin and other events at the Arboretum, visit their website, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Got a tip? Email Jessica Cross at jcross@kera.org. You can follow her on Instagram @jessica.cross.

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