The Morton Arboretum celebrates fall foliage in its annual Fall Color Festival, Sept. 30 – Nov. 3, with many autumnal events.
Visitors can witness the changing fall colors during the month-long celebration. Some activities include a 5K Run/Walk, wine tastings, crafts of local artisans and pumpkin decorating.
At the Fall Color Festival Fare in Arbor Court, visitors are offered brats and burgers, create taffy apples and kettle corn. The Illinois Gourd Society will create unique gourd creations. . For kids, Trick or Trees offers autumn crafts and games. Adults can savor complimentary wine samples from Wente Family Estates.
The Glass Pumpkin Patch is returning Oct. 17-21, featuring 3,000 hand-blown glass pumpkins crafted by 15 local artisans and their mentor, Shannon Jane Morgan, a popular California glass artisan. Visitors can watch live demonstrations, meet the artists, and purchase their favorites.
Active visitors will have the opportunity to race under a picturesque canopy of trees in the Fall Color 5K Run and Walk on Sept. 30. There’s also a Kids’ Dash.
Walks around Meadow Lake let visitors admire nature-themed scarecrows along the Scarecrow Trail. Also, October’s Theatre-Hike features “Werewolf’s Curse; Or Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow,” Visitors can follow the story as it travels alongside nature’s stage at the Arboretum.
Event Information
Fall Color Festival: Weekends in October and Columbus Day – Free with Arboretum admission
Fall Color Festival Fare: Weekends in October and Columbus Day, 11AM – 4PM – Free with Arboretum admission
Complimentary Wine Tasting: Weekends in October and Columbus Day, Noon – 4PM – Free with Arboretum admission
Gourd Works: Weekends in October and Columbus Day, 11AM – 4PM – Free with Arboretum admission
Glass Pumpkin Patch (Exhibit Only): October 17 – 19 – Free with Arboretum admission
Glass Workshops: October 15 – 19 – $89 per person ($75 for Arboretum members)
Glass-Blowing Demos: October 17 – 21 – Free with Arboretum admission
Glass Pumpkin Patch Market: October 19 – 21 – Free with Arboretum admission, additional cost for glass pumpkin purchases
Fall Color 5K Run and Walk: September 30, 8 – 11AM – Advanced registration: $30 per adult ($25 for Arboretum members) / Race-day registration: $35 per adult
Kids Dash: September 30, 8 – 11AM – Advanced registration: $12 per child ($10 for Arboretum members) / Race-day registration: $15 per child
Trick or Trees: Weekends in October, 11AM – 4PM
Theatre-Hikes: Weekends in October, 3 – 5PM, $19 per adult ($12 for Arboretum members), $13 per child ($8 for Arboretum members)
Scarecrow Trail: Daily in October – Free with Arboretum admission
Fall Bulb Sale: October 6 – 7, 9AM – 4PM – Free with Arboretum admission, additional cost for bulb purchases
Unless otherwise specified, all Arboretum events and destinations including the Children’s Garden are free with Arboretum admission.
The 2012 rates are
$12/adult, ($8 on Wednesday), ages 18–64
$11/senior, ($7 on Wednesday), ages 65 and over
$9/child ($6 on Wednesday), ages 2-17
Under age 2 is free, Parking is free
For more information visit www.mortonarb.org or call (630) 968–0074.
