The AGC Blog

Fall Garden Event Highlights

Fall is in full bloom across America’s Garden Capital, bringing with it colorful foliage, festive harvest events, and unforgettable autumn experiences. From family-friendly fall festivals and bustling autumn markets to lantern-lit evenings and wellness workshops, there’s something for every outdoor enthusiast. Stroll through brilliant fall foliage, sip cider beneath golden leaves, or discover seasonal art in the gardens—these autumn highlights are the perfect way to celebrate the season in nature’s most beautiful settings. Explore America’s Garden Capital and find your next fall festival or foliage escape.

Some events require pre-registration or additional paid admission, please check each garden’s website for complete events details.

What's Happening September - November 2025

Winterthur
On-going

Chrysanthemum Festival at Longwood Gardens

On View October 24–November 16, 2025
Miniature trains wind through lush gardens and artful pollinators made of natural materials, with loops, bridges, and cable cars along forested tracks.
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Garden Railway: World Pollinators at Morris Arboretum

Now - September 30, 2025
Miniature trains wind through lush gardens and artful pollinators made of natural materials, with loops, bridges, and cable cars along forested tracks.
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Bees, Butterflies, and Blooms: Pollinator Paradise at Morris Arboretum

Now through September 30, 2025
Explore two lush new meadows and giant butterfly art celebrating the beauty and vital role of pollinators in our ecosystem. A vibrant, immersive exhibit.
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Home & Garden Tours at Stoneleigh

Saturdays: September 13th, September 27th, October 11th, October 25th, November 8th
Enjoy dazzling displays of native plants, stately trees, and historical landscapes by the Olmsted Brothers that have been thoughtfully reimagined into a beautiful and biodiverse haven for people and wildlife. The spectacular Tudor Revival Main House—which is usually only open for special events—is also included in the tour, so don’t miss this opportunity for a peek inside the former home of three prominent Main Line families.
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September

Fungal Ecology in Greater Philadelphia Virtual Lecture with Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens

Thursday, September 18, 2025
Explore the important identifying features of our local fungi and discover the crucial roles these fungi play in our ecosystems.
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Open Boating Days at Glen Foerd

Sunday, September 21, 2025
Join us at Glen Foerd for open boating! We’ll have canoes, rowboats, and kayaks for guests to explore parts of the Poquessing Creek and Delaware River.
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Fall Equinox and Meditation Walk at Laurel Hill

Sunday, September 21, 2025
Join us for an arboretum walk that looks at seasonal change amongst the trees as we are guided in short meditations that engage with transformation.
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A Day of Wine & Roses at Appleford

Sunday, September 28, 2025
Come to celebrate the newly-restored, historic rose garden and enjoy a glass of wine while strolling the beautiful, fall gardens at Appleford. Registration required.
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Pints & Plots: Brew Masters at Laurel Hill

Sunday, September 28, 2025
This walking tour will focus on the history of beer in our great city and the permanent residents of Laurel Hill West and East, who produced, distributed, and enjoyed it.
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Fall Bird Walk at Stoneleigh

Tuesday, September 30, 2025 (Rain date Thursday, October 9)
The diverse and growing gardens of Stoneleigh sustain a variety of migratory songbirds during fall migration. Bring a pair of binoculars and get ready for an exclusive, early morning experience looking and listening for birds in the tranquility of the garden before it is open to the visiting public.
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October

Morris Pumpkin Cottage at Morris Arboretum & Gardens

October 1 – 31, 2025
Hundreds of pumpkins on display in the Garden and at the Morris Pumpkin Cottage. A true spectable of orange. Selfies are a MUST!
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Scarecrow Walk & Contest at Morris Arboretum & Gardens

October 1 – 31, 2025
The scarecrows are here! More than 40 scarecrows will be on display throughout the Morris beginning October 1 through Halloween. The theme is Cartoons! Be sure to vote for your favorite, which will determine the top prize winners.
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Truck & Tractor Day at Winterthur

Saturday, October 4, 2025
Get up close to big equipment, suit up in firefighter gear, take a hayride, and more on this day of farm-style fun. Included with admission. Members free. This is a rain or shine, drop-in event, although you may register in advance.
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Fall Fun Day at Laurel Hill

Sunday, October 5, 2025
Children of all ages and caregivers are invited to a family-friendly day of outdoor autumn festivities. Enjoy a cemetery scavenger hunt, mini-tours, games, prizes, story times, and fall crafts. Costumes encouraged!
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Gen Z Hike: Unplug & Explore at Tyler Arboretum

Sunday, October 5, 2025
Need a break from scrolling, studying, or stressing? Grab your crew—or come solo—and join us for a low-pressure, high-vibe nature walk designed with Gen Z in mind.
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Tradition in Bloom: Behind the Scenes of Longwood's Chrysanthemum Festival

Sunday, October 5, 2025
Learn about this traditional horticultural art form, the history of the Chrysanthemum Festival at Longwood, and the forms and flowers featured in the 2025 display.
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ArtsFest at Glen Foerd

Sunday, October 5, 2025
View the new works of our 2025 Artists in Residence while enjoying live music, food, and more!
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Fall Fireside at Tyler Arboretum

Thursday, October 9, 2025
Welcome autumn with an evening of simple seasonal fun at Tyler Arboretum. Enjoy dinner from local food trucks, sip warm or seasonal drinks, and treat yourself to sweet fall favorites. Stop by nature education tables, join storytime and light craft activities with the kids, and play lawn games while the crisp air and colorful leaves set the scene. Take a walk through the gardens or stroll along nearby trails, then gather around the firepits for marshmallows as the day winds down. It’s a relaxed, festive night outdoors — perfect for spending time with family and friends and savoring the spirit of fall.
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Weekend in the Woodshop at Glen Foerd

Saturday, October 11 and Sunday, October 12, 2025
Learn basic woodworking skills to create and customize your very own wooden picture frame!
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Succulent Pumpkins at Grounds for Sculpture

Saturday, October 11, 2025
Embrace the beauty of autumn with a unique, handcrafted succulent pumpkin! Join GFS Manager of Horticulture Cat Swiderski for a fun, hands-on workshop where you’ll create a stunning seasonal centerpiece using vibrant succulents and a fresh pumpkin.
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Fantastic Fall Foliage Tours at Grounds for Sculpture

Wednesday, October 15 and Saturday, October 18, 2025
Join GFS Manager of Horticulture Cat Swiderski and GFS Horticulturalist Jen Mothes and discover the beauty of the autumnal changes beginning to take place throughout the garden. Learn the science behind these spectacular fall colors as the grounds transition from summer to fall!
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12th Annual Tree Canopy Conference

Friday, October 17, 2025
The Tree Canopy Conference is an annual symposium that brings together a variety of green industry professionals and others who work with and care about our region’s urban forest.
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Perennial Plant Conference

Friday, October 17, 2025
The Perennial Plant Conference was started in 1983 to bring together locally, nationally, and internationally recognized experts on perennials for a day-long conference with an educational focus.
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Hops & Harvest at Winterthur

Saturday, October 18 (Rain date: Sunday, October 19, 2025)
Celebrate autumn, Oktoberfest style. Wander the garden as you savor craft beers from local breweries while enjoying lively music.
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Hagley Craft Fair

Saturday, October 18 & Sunday, October 19, 2025
This marketplace brings together talented artisans from the Mid-Atlantic area to display and sell fine arts, crafts, and gourmet items. This premier show features works in wood, leather, pottery, jewelry, fibers, metal, and other media, and includes a specialty food market. Visit vendors throughout Hagley’s beautiful upper property and inside our Soda House building.
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Native Pollinators of PA, Light Bites + Presentation at Stoneleigh

Thursday, October 23, 2025
Sip, snack, and discover the vital world of native pollinators that don’t usually get the spotlight during this casual evening presentation with Stoneleigh.
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Music in the Meadow at Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve

Friday, October 24, 2025
Join the 3rd annual evening of live music on the lower lawn and Captain James L. Moore Pavilion. A fall-fest themed night features food trucks and beverages, along with a fall-inspired ambiance, including a bonfire (weather permitting). Families are welcome to bring their own chairs and blankets. Admission required.
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Fall Fun by the Fire at Mt Cuba Center

Saturday October 25, 2025
Join one of our seasoned naturalists and explore the history and diversity of Pennsylvania’s trees.
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A “Grotesque” Tour at Dusk at Andalusia

Saturday, October 25, 2025
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 new tour begins with hot toddies, tea, and light snacks on the Big House porch. Once the sun is down, explore the mansion and grounds with Executive Director John Vick, hearing selections from Poe’s book with commentary connecting each short story to its reading location. Tickets are available at $65 per person. This tour is limited to 24 participants.
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Fall Foliage Tours at Andalusia

Saturdays, October 25 and November 1, 2025
Join Horticulturist Kristin Biddle as she leads a guided walking tour of Andalusia’s grounds, highlighting the fall foliage seen throughout our level II arboretum. This tour is free for members and included with admission of any kind.
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Fall Foliage Tour at Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve

Sunday, October 26, 2025
Join one of our seasoned naturalists and explore the history and diversity of Pennsylvania’s trees.
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Looking for more ghoulish garden fun?

Check out our complete guide to the Best of Fall Festivals and Halloween events in America's Garden Capital!
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November

Trees Around the World Tour at Morris Arboretum & Gardens

Saturday, November 8, 2025
NEW for 2025! Morris founders John and Lydia Morris traveled worldwide to bring an international flavor to the gardens. Now you can take a fascinating journey around the Garden that highlights trees from Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas
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Japanese Maple Collection Tour at Scott Arboretum & Gardens

Saturday, November 15, 2025
Explore the Japanese Maple Collection at Scott Arboretum & Gardens with our expert horticulture staff and enjoy the variety of vibrant hues that maples bring to autumn. Gardeners and plant enthusiasts of all levels are welcome.
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Seasonal Selections for Fall Interest Class at Longwood

Saturday, November 22 2025
As late summer transitions into fall, the garden transitions too—as many of the plants that bloomed in the summer begin to produce seeds or go dormant—but the late season garden still has so much left to admire.
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Holiday Market at Winterthur

Saturday, November 22 2025
Discover a delightful selection of artisan goods, handcrafted treasures, and festive décor from over 50 talented local vendors. Wander through the market while savoring seasonal treats, sipping warm beverages, and enjoying live holiday music.
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Holiday Garden Rail Seasonal Opening at Morris Arboretum & Gardens

Saturday, November 22 through Tuesday, December 30, 2025
Make a stop at the Holiday Garden Railway display a family tradition! The buildings and trains are all meticulously decorated for the holidays with lights that twinkle along the tracks and around the surrounding landscape
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Creating a Vibrant Fall Garden Class at Mt Cuba Center

Sunday, November 23, 2025
Explore the Japanese Maple Collection at Scott Arboretum & Gardens with our expert horticulture staff and enjoy the variety of vibrant hues that maples bring to autumn. Gardeners and plant enthusiasts of all levels are welcome.
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Holiday Artisan Market at Grounds for Sculpture

Saturday, November 29, 2025
Experience the Holiday Artisan Market at Grounds For Sculpture! Discover 60+ talented artisans offering items such as handcrafted jewelry, pottery, woodworking, original art, skincare, gourmet treats, and much more. Whether you’re exploring for the day or a frequent visitor, the Market at Grounds For Sculpture is the perfect one-stop shop to discover unique local artisans.
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