Pittsburgh’s beloved glasshouse turns into a friendly haunted garden for one special evening. Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens invites families to Halloween Happenings on Friday, October 23, from 5 to 8 p.m., when little ghosts and goblins are welcome to explore the conservatory in costume for a night of festive, not-too-spooky fun — all free with regular conservatory admission.
The evening is packed with hands-on activities for kids. A spectacular stilt walker welcomes guests from 5 to 6:30 p.m., children under 18 can pot their own festive BOO-tanicals to take home, and everyone can try Pin the Grin on the charming Cheshire Cat, brave the spooky touch-if-you-dare station, strike a pose in the photobooth and show off Alice in Wonderland-inspired airbrush tattoos. Marvelous magic shows add to the fun at 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m.
Best of all, two favorite exhibits stay open for exploring during the event: the Fall Flower Show: Alice’s Adventures in Autumn, with its storybook topiaries and chrysanthemums, and Garden Railroad: Fairies and Gnomes, a miniature world that delights train lovers of every age.
Phipps is at One Schenley Park in Oakland. Members and kids under 2 enter at no cost, and reserving tickets in advance at phipps.conservatory.org is recommended. Happy City News loves a Halloween where the scariest thing is deciding which costume to wear!
Photo: Kitoko Chargois / Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
