Fall gets a full day of celebration in Brooklyn on Saturday, October 24, when Brooklyn Botanic Garden hosts its Fall Harvest Festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last entry at 4:30 p.m. Surrounded by some of Brooklyn’s most fabulous autumn foliage, families can enjoy live music, hands-on activities and a garden in full color — and everyone is invited to come in cozy flannel or in costume.
The Pumpkin Patch is the family headquarters. Watch the Maniac Pumpkin Carvers turn ordinary pumpkins into extraordinary works of art in a live demonstration, pick up pro carving tips for home, and let the kids decorate a mini pumpkin or gourd to take home, while supplies last. In the Discovery Garden, little naturalists can visit the Seed-Saving Cart to learn how seeds are collected so the garden can grow again next season, and help paint giant papier-mâché pumpkins that will stay on display through the fall.
All day long there is more to join in: face painting for ages 15 and under, a turn at the Garden’s own cider press with a fresh sample, garden story time at 11:30 a.m. in the Fragrance Garden, giant chalk coloring at Oak Circle, lawn games like cornhole, giant Connect 4 and Jenga, and rounds of musical chairs and freeze dance. At 3 p.m., an exuberant costume parade for all ages rolls through, led by the high-energy percussion ensemble Batalá New York. Guided walks round out the day, including the Fall Fruits and Nuts Tour at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. and a Seasonal Highlights Tour at 1 p.m.
Best of all for families: children under 12 enter free. Adult tickets are $38, youth ages 12–17 are $17, seniors are $30, and members receive discounts. The festival takes place rain or shine, blankets are welcome on the Cherry Esplanade and Water Garden lawns, and food and drinks will be available throughout the Garden. It is a joyful, leafy way to spend a fall Saturday together in Brooklyn.
Photo: Brooklyn Botanic Garden
