The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden's fall festival, Autumn at the Arboretum, features the nationally acclaimed Pumpkin Village and a family friendly concert on Monday, October 13. The Dallas Arboretum presents its annual Columbus Day children's concert with family favorite Eddie Coker with performances at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on the Martin Rutchik Concert Lawn. The concert, sponsored by DallasChild, is free with garden admission.
Monday, October 13 is also a Mommy & Me Monday, sponsored by Kimberly-Clark, and includes a petting zoo, nature arts and crafts and face painting from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m in the Pecan Grove.
A native of Highland Park and a Southern Methodist University graduate, Coker has been writing, composing and performing children's music since 1989. He has composed for television shows such as "Barney & Friends." He will perform children's songs, including well-known favorites "The Happy One" and "The Woo Woo Song."
"We invite you to pack a picnic and a blanket and make it a day for you and your families to enjoy this concert," said Mary Brinegar, president and CEO of the Dallas Arboretum. "We also invite children and adults to stroll through our 66 acres of garden, and to visit Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden where you can learn about science and nature in 17 indoor/outdoor galleries with 150 interactive games."
Guests are also able to take advantage of live musical performances over the holiday weekend. On Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., families can relax on the Martin Rutchik Concert Lawn while enjoying festive melodies to celebrate the Columbus Day weekend.
Autumn at the Arboretum is presented by Gateway Buick, Alliance Data and Texas Instruments, and the fall festival boasts 65,000 pumpkins, gourds and squash to form the nationally acclaimed Pumpkin Village, sponsored by Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake.
FEATURED DAILY:
-The nationally acclaimed Pumpkin Village features four pumpkin houses created from 65,000 pumpkins, gourds and squash by the talented Horticulture team.
-Each house highlights a popular children's storybook including "Pumpkin Jack," "Too Many Pumpkins," "Strega Nona's Harvest" and "Pumpkin Town!," The storybooks, "Scarecrow" and "Cinderella," are also featured in Pumpkin Village.
-Cinderella's carriage and thousands of pumpkins-artfully arranged throughout Pecan Grove-create popular photo opportunities.
-Hay Bale Maze at the Tom Thumb Pumpkin Patch provides discovery and fun for children.
-Oktoberfest Garten, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. The quaint, outdoor Café on the Green serves a traditional German menu, while guests enjoy the view of beautiful, full beds of fall color.
-Piano melodies from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. by Keith Schmorr on the Brinegar Patio.
-Garden Melodies, Weekends, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Martin Rutchik Concert Lawn
WHAT'S BLOOMING:
More than 36,000 plantings-double last year's-are flourishing, thanks to the Horticulture staff growing these plants in-house. These include chrysanthemums, marigolds, rubbeckia and pennistemon.
WEEK DAYS:
-Kimberly-Clark Mommy & Me Mondays and Tiny Tot Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. every Monday and Tuesday through November 25. Featuring a petting zoo, nature art, face painting and Kindermusik in the Pecan Grove.
-Harvest Tea, Monday - Friday, September 22-November 26, seatings at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Join family and friends for a delicious, 3-course seasonal tea service. Guests must be at least 13 years old. Advance reservations required by calling 214.515.6511.
DISCOUNTS:
-Discount tickets available at area Tom Thumb locations through Nov. 26.
-Buy One Get One Free Wednesdays, Sept. 24-Nov. 26, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tickets can only be purchased onsite.
-C.C. Young Senior Thursdays, September 25-November 20. General admission tickets for $11 for those 65 and older along with a 20% discount at the Hoffman Family Gift Store to those 65 and older. Tickets can only be purchased onsite.-Discounted parking available online for $5.00.
Additional sponsors include:
C.C. Young (Senior Thursdays Sponsor)
Mutual of Omaha, BDO and Northern Trust (Pumpkin House Sponsors)
Tom Thumb (Pumpkin Patch Sponsor)
Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake (Pumpkin Village Sponsor)
Kimberly-Clark (Mommy and Me Mondays and Tiny Tot Tuesdays Sponsor)