It’s the fifteenth year of Dallas Arboretum’s beloved Autumn at the Arboretum festival, which has been named one of the best fall festivals in the country by several national publications. My avid readers know that I look forward to Autumn at the Arboretum all year and never miss it, but this year is particularly special because it’s the first thing I have gone out and done in over six months because, well, you know why!

I felt very safe at the Arboretum with my friend Mark today because masks are required, it’s outdoors, and it’s very easy to socially distance amongst the 66-acres of stunning gardens, one acre of which is dedicated in the fall to the epic pumpkin village. You also need to reserve your time slot ahead of time, which I assume is to help with crowd control. Tickets allow for a four hour visit, which is more than enough time to explore every nook and cranny of the autumnal wonderland.

The theme of the annual pumpkin village this year is “The Art of the Pumpkin.” Over 90,000 pumpkins of every variety you can imagine were used to create colorful mosaics, displays, photo ops, a pumpkin river, and four massive pumpkin buildings. It takes thirty-five workers nearly a month to build the display.

Centerstage this year is the Arboretum’s Cinderella carriage, which of course I love because I love everything related to Disney and horses, drawn by two corn husk horses and surrounded by a beautiful pumpkin display. The horses have miniature pumpkin bridles, which might *just* be my favorite detail this year.

There’s also a pumpkin patch inside of the pumpkin village and yes, the pumpkins are for sale! The pumpkin patch also has a really great photo op in the left corner, where you can see the Cinderella carriage over your shoulder.

This year I noticed many pumpkin photo walls strategically placed around the outskirts of the pumpkin village, an absolute brilliant move by Dallas Arboretum that should help socially distance guests while allowing everyone to take adorable fall photos.

It’s easy to get caught up in the spirit of fall at Dallas Arboretum. Forty-seven thousand marigolds were planted for the festival and I loved how the pink and purple looked agains the pop of orange pumpkins! Over 10,000 corn stalks were used this year, in part to create a charming fall hay bale maze that kids will love.

Once you’re done taking in the pumpkin village, be sure to walk around the rest of the gardens. Over 85,000 plants and flowers are in bloom and pumpkins are everywhere! I hope you have as much fun at Dallas Arboretum as I always do. Also, all of the pumpkins by the front gate are for sale! I bought ten to use for my upcoming Harvest Festival. You can see them in the first episode of The Rose Table’s Quarantine Halloween, which premieres Friday, October 2, 2020.

Autumn at the Arboretum The Art of the Pumpkin, presented by Reliant Energy, opens tomorrow and runs through November 1, 2020. Learn more and buy tickets here.

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Happy fall, y’all,

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