Something mysterious is stirring in the gardens…
This October, venture beyond the pumpkin patch to discover Halloween celebrations, gardens after dark, creatures of the night, and some of nature’s strangest and spookiest inhabitants.
Whether you prefer your adventures festive, mysterious, or just a little bit eerie, there’s plenty waiting to be discovered in Philadelphia’s gardens.
Some events require pre-registration or additional paid admission, please check each garden’s website for complete events details.
Pumpkins, Scarecrows & Halloween Fun
No tricks here—just plenty of seasonal treats. Throughout October, gardens across the Philadelphia region are getting into the Halloween spirit with scarecrows, pumpkins, costumes, creepy crafts, and a few delightfully spooky surprises.
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- Thursday, October 1–Saturday, October 31, 2026
- Morris Arboretum & Gardens
October is ArBOOretum Month at the Morris! Hundreds of pumpkins are on display in the Garden and at the Morris Pumpkin Cottage. A true spectacle of orange. Selfies are a MUST!
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- Thursday, October 1–Saturday, October 31, 2026
- Morris Arboretum & Gardens
The scarecrows are here! More than 40 scarecrows will be on display throughout the Morris beginning October 1 through Halloween. The theme is the ’70s! See scarecrows inspired by the 1770s, 1970s, or any decade ending in “70.” Be sure to vote for your favorite, which will determine the top prize winners.
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- Thursday, October 22, 2026
- Andalusia Historic House, Gardens and Arboretum
Famed author of macabre stories Edgar Allan Poe visited Andalusia in 1840, the year he published Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque, later giving an inscribed first edition to Nicholas Biddle. This special tour begins at dusk, as guests will explore the mansion and grounds while hearing dramatically read selections from Poe’s book with commentary connecting each short story to the location where it is read.
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- Thursday, October 22, 2026
- Glen Foerd
Kaleidoscope: Creative Self-Care, we’ll celebrate the spooky season with a night of witchy Halloween fun! We’ll create spell jars, design our own wands, paint pumpkins, and more. Come dressed in costume or other Halloween/Fall favorites, get a glimpse of the grounds at night, walk through the historic Glen Foerd mansion (some say it may be haunted), and enjoy some Halloween hocus pocus, treats, music, and art just for the grown-ups.
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- Friday, October 23, 2026
- Andalusia Historic House, Gardens and Arboretum
Famed author of macabre stories Edgar Allan Poe visited Andalusia in 1840, the year he published Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque, later giving an inscribed first edition to Nicholas Biddle. This special tour begins at dusk, as guests will explore the mansion and grounds while hearing dramatically read selections from Poe’s book with commentary connecting each short story to the location where it is read.
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- Saturday, October 24, 2026
- Laurel Hill
At these annual after-dark tours of Laurel Hill East, hear the storied lives of restless spirits from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Knowledgeable tour guides will lead visitors by flashlight down winding pathways, and the night will conclude with festive beverages around roaring fire pits.
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- Saturday, October 24, 2026
- Hagley Museum and Library
Looking for a safe place to trick-or-treat this Halloween? Children are invited to come in costume and visit treat stations throughout the beautiful surroundings of Hagley’s powder yard. Halloween at Hagley features a trick-or-treat trail while supplies of candy last.
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- Saturday, October 24, 2026
- Mt. Cuba Center
Delight in the playful spirit of autumn with an event that blends creativity, gardening, and seasonal fun. Participate in a pumpkin painting contest then explore how pumpkins enrich soil through a hands on composting preview led by the Mt. Cuba team. Children and adults alike will enjoy seasonal themed crafts, while haywagon rides and glowing fire pits add a cozy backdrop to the festivities. Treat yourself to s’mores, or an apple cider as you celebrate the season’s charm and learn how fall traditions can support a healthier landscape. Admission to the gardens is included with your ticket. Food and beer, wine and seasonal cocktails will be available for purchase.
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- Thursday, October 29, 2026
- The Woodlands
The spookiest party this side of the Schuylkill is back and better than ever! Active Members (21+) are invited to celebrate Halloween at The Woodlands on Thursday, August 29. Fun and seasonal snacks and drinks will be provided. Costumes are welcome but not required, and there will be stick-on mustaches for anyone who needs a last-minute disguise. The event is for Woodland Members only. Learn how to become a member.
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- Friday, October 30, 2026
- Stoneleigh: a natural garden
Just in time for Halloween, Natural Lands and the Organ Historical Society (OHS) present a thrilling evening of classic cinema with organ accompaniment at Stoneleigh’s Main House. To complete the movie theatre experience, guests will enjoy freshly popped popcorn, a candy bar, and beer and wine at the bar. This event is intended for adults 18 and over.
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- Friday, October 30, 2026
- Laurel Hill
Spend a few hours wandering with Freespirit Paranormal Investigators as the team explores Laurel Hill East in the dark. Discover their favorite hotspots and haunts. Grab a pair of comfy walking shoes and prepare for the unexpected, because the night has plans of its own.
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- Friday, October 30, 2026
- Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library
Enjoy spooky tales of Halloweens past and walk in the footsteps of those who have traveled here before…and possibly still do, guided by one of our staff members. Then stop off at our tailgate in a picturesque location for lively conversation and tasty treats, including hors d’oeuvres and a selection of hard and soft beverages. Registration required; capacity limited.
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- Friday, October 30, 2026
- Glen Foerd
Step right up… and enter the grand spectacle of Glen Foerd’s Masquerade Ball. This Mischief Night, roam the estate as it comes alive with a thrilling circus of wonders. Enjoy mesmerizing performers, including gravity-defying contortionists, tarot readers, spellbinding jugglers, and fire dancers. Don your carnival masquerade finest and enjoy an open bar, delicious dinner, live music, after-hours access to the mansion, and more!
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- Saturday, October 31, 2026
- Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library
Dress your goblins and ghosts in their Halloween finest and join us for daytime trick-or-treating in the garden. Enjoy crafts, games, and live music.
Explore Nature’s Strange & Spooky Side
Nature has plenty of tricks up its sleeve. Uncover the wilder side of spooky season with prowling owls, bats on the wing, mysterious mushrooms, and a closer look at what happens when trees reach the end of their lives.
From fascinating fungi to creatures that thrive after dark, these garden programs reveal that some of the season’s most intriguing mysteries are hiding in plain sight.
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- Wednesday, October 7, 2026
- Stoneleigh: a natural garden
Most people are familiar with the innumerable benefits of living trees. But, even after their death, trees provide vital habitat, shelter, and food for wildlife. Join us as we learn how dead and dying trees still teem with life, from tiny termites to fantastic flying squirrels and everything in between. This program will begin inside with a lecture and discussion, and then move outside to explore how Stoneleigh incorporates snags and logs into the garden.
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- Friday, October 9, 2026
- The Woodlands
This special members’ evening invites visitors to experience the cemetery after dark! Bring a picnic blanket, dinner, and dine under the stars. There will be fire pits and more. Free for members, $10 ticketed option for non-members.
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- Friday, October 16, 2026
- Mt. Cuba Center
As the sun goes down, the gardens truly come alive. You will get a rare opportunity to explore Mt. Cuba’s stunning landscapes under the cover of twilight and darkness. Equipped with provided flashlights and guided by Kesha, you will venture into the field to:
- Expert Instruction: Scout real locations where bats are likely to roost.
- The Night Trek: Spot these fascinating nocturnal creatures in action above the garden canopy.
- An Acoustic Hunt: Listen to high-frequency bat calls using specialized acoustic monitors.
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- Friday, October 23, 2026
- Haverford College Arboretum
Join us for a casual stroll around campus hunting for mushrooms! Bethany Teigen, founder of the Philadelphia Mycology Club, will lead the way, teaching participants how to properly forage for mushrooms. This class is intended for beginners and will include a general introduction to the fungal kingdom and identification information on each specimen found.
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- Wednesday, October 28, 2026
- Stoneleigh: a natural garden
Whoooo is excited to learn about the owls of Pennsylvania? Our sylvan state is home to eight species of these majestic birds, but only three species (Great Horned, Barred, and Eastern Screech) are year-round residents. Join us on a leisurely stroll as we look and listen for owls in the garden, while also learning about their calls, nesting habits, and the unique adaptations that make them such skilled, nocturnal hunters.
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- Wednesday, October 28, 2026
- Morris Arboretum & Gardens
Join us in celebrating Bat Week with a special evening educational program about the important role bats play and what you can do to support bats in your yard and neighborhood. We begin with a short presentation to learn about these incredible creatures and end with an explorational walk to see these flying night mammals in action. Open to all ages. One registration covers one adult and one child. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
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- Thursday, October 29, 2026
- Morris Arboretum & Gardens
Is it a plant? Is it an animal? Is it both? Or is it…a monster?! Learn all about carnivorous plants this Halloween season and make your own plant monster to come with you while you trick or treat! Kiddos and adults can come in costume!
Creepy Species Spotlight: Ghost Pipe
Is it a mushroom? A ghost? Neither, actually.
With its waxy white stems emerging from the shadowy forest floor, ghost pipe (Monotropa uniflora) certainly looks the part for spooky season. But despite its mushroom-like appearance, ghost pipe is actually a flowering plant—with a very unusual way of surviving.
Unlike most plants, ghost pipe contains no chlorophyll and doesn’t make its own food from sunlight. Instead, it gets its nutrients through an underground relationship with fungi connected to tree roots. That lack of chlorophyll is also responsible for its eerie, almost translucent white appearance.
Keep an eye out on woodland walks—you just might spot this little ghost hiding among the leaves.
