September 3, 2020 by
Autumn at the Arboretum Fall Festival Highlights The Art of the Pumpkin
The Autumn at the Arboretum Festival runs from September 19 to November 1, highlighting the nationally acclaimed Pumpkin Village, featuring four 20-foot-tall decorated pumpkin houses and creative displays fashioned from more than 90,000 pumpkins, gourds, and squash.
With the theme, “The Art of the Pumpkin,” the Dallas Arboretum’s popular festival has been named one of the “Best Fall Festivals to Celebrate the Season” by Country Living Magazine. The event opens on September 19, 2020, and runs through November 1.
Visitors can purchase tickets online from September 1-18 to receive $1 off per ticket; these tickets are valid for admission during the festival dates.
Autumn at the Arboretum features the breathtaking colors of fall including 150,000 autumn flowers accented by pumpkins, gourds, and squash from Floydada, Texas. The festival also features the return of the popular Mommy and Me Mondays and Tiny Tot Tuesdays, presented by Kimberly-Clark, a hay bale maze, a pumpkin patch with pumpkins for purchase, music, and more.
Alan Walne, Dallas Arboretum’s board chairman, said, “We invite the community to the Dallas Arboretum to experience a familiar place, including Pumpkin Village, which has been a tradition for 15 years. The garden is a wonderful place to social distance, get some fresh air outdoors, and take plenty of photos.”
You can also visit A Tasteful Place, a 3.5-acre food, herb, and vegetable garden. Weekly activities include free Monday cooking demonstrations with Dallas College Cooks along with activities throughout the week including cooking, floral, and horticulture demonstrations. Each weekend features live bands playing in the afternoon. Check the website and social media for times and schedules.
Arboretum Fall Festival Events
Tasteful Tuesdays: Tuesdays 11 a.m.-noon
Local flower store professionals show participants helpful tips and tricks for making their own floral arrangements and how to select the best grocery store flowers.
September 22: McShan Florist
September 29: Ruibal’s
October 6: Enflowerment
October 27: McShan Florist
Pumpkin Thursdays Scavenger Hunt
September 24 – October 29
Stop by the Information Booth on Thursdays to pick up a map for the scavenger hunt winding throughout the garden. You and your family will lenjoy finding surprises in Pumpkin Village. Complete the hunt; turn in the card back at the Information Booth to receive a ticket to be redeemed. for a brownie from the Terrace Café.
Oktoberfest
September 20 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Celebrate Oktoberfest at the Arboretum with complimentary beer samples, tasty local and traditional food vendors, and live music all weekend. Compete in the pretzel toss and stein-holding competition, supported by White Rock Ale House. Café on the Green’s Oktoberfest menu, which is available from September 19 to November 1, features bratwursts, carved pastrami sandwiches, warm apple strudel, black forest cake, and assorted Oktoberfest beers.
National Coffee Day Celebration
September 29
Grab a cup of coffee from one of many of Dallas’ favorite spots, and celebrate National Coffee Day while listening to live music. Choose from a selection of pastries, baked goods, and other coffee-flavored treats such as ice cream and popsicles.
About the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden: The Dallas Arboretum is located on the southeastern shore of White Rock Lake at 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, Texas 75218. Festival admission is $17 for adults, $14 for seniors 65 and older, $12 for children 2-12, and free for Arboretum members and children under two. Parking is $15 or $10 purchased online. For more information, call 214.515.6500 or visit www.dallasarboretum.org
May 21, 2020 by
Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden Reopens on June 1st
The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden will reopen on Monday, June 1st with timed ticketing. Timed ticketing will help visitors and employees to minimize physical contact and adhere to social distancing guidelines while enjoying the beauty of the Arboretum.
Dallas Arboretum Tickets
Advance online ticket reservations will be required for entrance by members and non-members alike. Tickets can be reserved for up to 7 days in advance. No tickets will be sold at the gate. To reserve your e-tickets, visit the website or call 214.515.6615.
Other specific operating rules during this time include:
- Reservations are for 4-hour blocks. Colored wristbands will be given to guests upon entering the garden, indicating the exit time.
- The Arboretum will assign all guests a parking location to allow for social distancing at the gates and in the parking lots.
- Groups are limited to no more than 5 people.
- Please be patient and maintain a 6-foot distance from individuals outside of your party.
Gift certificates or other promotional tickets may be redeemed by calling the office number listed above to reserve your time to visit
The Arboretum will begin the reopening with a maximum of 1,000 people in the garden at any one time during a four-hour block. Visitors are must follow the City of Dallas’s policy and guidelines for wearing face coverings and practice social distancing.
Every person over the age of 2 should consider wearing some form of covering over their nose and mouth such as a homemade mask, scarf, bandana, or handkerchief when within 6 feet of another person.
Only two sets of restrooms are open. The restrooms will be limited to 25% of their capacity and you will need to wear a mask.
Mary Brinegar, Dallas Arboretum President, and CEO, said, “Our top priority is the health and safety of our guests and employees, and these new plans and procedures make that possible. Requiring time-specific tickets to be purchased online minimizes physical contact and helps us determine the right number of visitors at any one time. We have also created a one-way, one-mile path around the garden to make it easier for our visitors to enjoy our beautiful grounds while social distancing.”
The Dallas Arboretum encourages visitors to bring their own food and beverages as there is minimal food service available and to carry out any personal trash when exiting the garden. Water fountains are not operable. There is a refillable water filtration system at the main information booth and vending machines with water and Gatorade only will be available near our Camp House in the middle of the garden.There are no trams operating. Wagon rentals are not available.
Maps may be picked up at the Information Booth at each entrance. All buildings are closed including the Hoffman Family Gift Store, A Tasteful Place Test Pavilion, the DeGolyer House and the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden.
Members can still get in from 7:00-9:00 a.m. for morning walks with an advance reservation. Although members get in free with their current membership, they do need to reserve a time block online and in advance.
For more information about garden procedures during this time, please read the Know Before You Go FAQ.
About the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden: The Arboretum is located on the southeastern shore of White Rock Lake at 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, Texas 75218. Open daily from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. through the end of June, then 9 a.m.-5 p.m. in July and August. General admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors 65 and older, $10 for children 2-12, and free for Arboretum members and children under two. On-site parking is $15 or $10 if purchased in advance online.
March 5, 2020 by
Celebrate Spring Break at the Most Beautiful Place in Dallas
Staycation Events at the Dallas Arboretum
Are you and your family planning a staycation for spring break? If so, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden has several exciting activities planned from March 14 to 20 during the height of Dallas Blooms.
At the largest floral festival in the Southwest, Dallas Blooms features more than 500,000 spring-blooming flowers, along with a “World Music” celebration each day, and events at A Tasteful Place and the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden. Guests are encouraged to check the website and social media to plan their visits.
“There’s something for everyone to experience during Dallas Blooms, which ushers in spring in Dallas. The ‘Sounds of Spring’ theme is perfect for traveling the world through music during spring break week. Visit the various gardens, and be sure to take in the 100 varieties of tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, pansies, violas, poppies and thousands of other spring-blooming annuals and perennials.” – Dallas Arboretum Board Chairman Alan Walne
Celebrating Spring with World Music
Spring Break Activities in the Main Garden:
World Music: March 14-20
*All activities listed for each day below are free with paid garden admission
Each day celebrates music from a different region or country in the world. The journey begins in Latin America and the Caribbean with two great bands performing live on the Martin Rutchik Concert Stage and Lawn on Saturday, March 14 and Sunday, March 15 from 2 to 4 p.m.
You can participate in a conga line or join the Limbo contest. Other stops include Germany, France, and Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day and Mexico during the equinox. The final stop for “World Music” week is Africa where guests can enjoy learning about Window to The Wild’s majestic African birds in their flight show at the Martin Rutchik Concert Stage and Lawn.
Dallas Blooms features 6 majestic topiaries throughout the garden, each depicting a different musical instrument, including a harp, bass, guitar and saxophone, as well as two topiary musicians. One musician is playing the violin, the other is playing the piano.
Saturday, March 14 – Latin America
Top Ten Records DJ livens the crowd with Latin music in the Entry Plaza from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Havana NRG takes the Martin Rutchik Concert Stage and Lawn from 2 to 4 p.m. to play all the Latin hits. Guests can join in on the conga line to conclude the festivities.
Sunday, March 15 – Caribbean
Chef Lisa Roark from El Centro College’s nationally recognized Hospitality and Culinary Institute teaches attendees how to make healthy recipes inspired by Caribbean ingredients at A Tasteful Place from 1 to 2 p.m. Head to the Martin Rutchik Concert Stage and Lawn to listen to upbeat island music by Sweet Steel from 2 to 4 p.m. Bar & Garden also joins in at A Tasteful Place to demonstrate how to prepare island-inspired drinks from 3 to 4 p.m.
Monday, March 16 – Germany
Bring the whole family for Mommy and Me Monday in Pecan Grove, then enjoy the El Centro College Cooks series demonstration at 11 a.m. in A Tasteful Place. Paul Salvie performs authentic German music with his accordion from noon to 2 p.m. at Café on the Green.
Tuesday, March 17 – Ireland
Commemorate St. Patrick’s Day with friends and family by taking a trip to the Emerald Isle. Start the day with Tiny Tot Tuesday activities in Pecan Grove, then learn how to make a St. Patrick’s Day-inspired floral arrangement with Enflowerment at A Tasteful Place at 11 a.m. Listen to a performance by Celtic singer, Misty Posey at the Martin Rutchik Concert Stage and Lawn from noon to 2 p.m.
Wednesday, March 18 – France
Come out for a day in the garden highlighting France. The chefs at Vestal’s demonstrate how to make French macarons at 11 a.m. in A Tasteful Place. Checkered Past Winery brings their delicious wines for guests 21 and older to sample during Wine Down Wednesday from noon to 3 p.m. at the Three Sisters Overlook at A Tasteful Place. Be sure to check out the French mime performing on the Paseo de Flores, just like in the streets of France, from noon to 2 p.m.
Thursday, March 19 – Mexico
Travel around the world in Texas by attending the “Places I’ve Seen” presentation from 1 to 2 p.m. led by Jessica Serna, blogger for My Curly Adventures, as she highlights all of the diverse adventures that can be experienced in the great state of Texas. Enjoy live entertainment and listen to authentic Mexican music at noon.
Friday, March 20 – Africa
Guests can journey to Africa as the final stop for spring break music week in the garden. Window to The Wild brings their majestic African birds to the garden for a spectacular flight show on the Martin Rutchik Concert Stage and Lawn at 10:30 a.m.
Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden
Around the World in One Week: Spring Break Edition, March 15-20
While school is out, bring the kids out for a week full of exploration. Journey around the world in one week with a new plant lab every day. Guests are invited on March 17th for a special spring animal adventure with the Dallas Zoo.
The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens