Picture a pumpkin house built to look like a Mondrian painting, or a wall of gourds arranged like a Rothko canvas. That’s the idea behind this year’s Autumn at the Arboretum in Dallas, themed “Harvest Hues.” The festival runs through Sunday, November 1, 2026, so there are still a few good weeks left to see it.
Here’s what’s on display this year, what it costs and which special nights are still ahead.
This year’s theme: Harvest Hues
The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden fills its famous Pumpkin Village each fall, and for 2026 the theme borrows from modern and contemporary art. According to Visit Dallas, the display uses more than 100,000 pumpkins, gourds and squash, with six pumpkin houses inspired by artists including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Mark Rothko, Louise Bourgeois, Piet Mondrian, M.C. Escher, and Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner. There’s also a sunflower mosaic nodding to Van Gogh.
Even if you couldn’t name a single painter, it’s a cheerful, colorful walk, and the photo spots practically set themselves up. Fodor’s Travel has named the event one of the best pumpkin festivals in America.
Dates, hours and admission
Autumn at the Arboretum began September 19 and closes November 1, 2026. The garden is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit Dallas lists these 2026 admission prices:
- Monday–Thursday: adults $21.95; children 3–12 $17.95
- Friday–Sunday: adults $25.95; children 3–12 $21.95
- Members: free
- Museums for All: $3 admission plus free parking for qualifying visitors
- Parking: $15 per vehicle
The Arboretum strongly recommends buying timed tickets online ahead of time, especially for October weekends, which can sell out. If rain spoils your visit, the garden’s Rainy Day Guarantee lets you return free within the same calendar year using your confirmation email.
Special events still on the calendar
As of October 7, several after-hours and weekend events were still ahead:
- Pumpkins and Pints: Fridays, October 9, 16, 23 and 30, from 6 to 9 p.m., with craft beer, wine and food trucks among the pumpkins (separately ticketed)
- Pumpkin and Squash Show and Sale: October 16–18, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Pumpkins After Hours: Tuesday, October 20, 5:30 to 8 p.m., a sensory-friendly evening with smaller crowds and quiet zones
Check the Arboretum’s events calendar for tickets and any additions before you go.
Making the most of your visit
The Arboretum covers 66 acres on the southeast shore of White Rock Lake, at 8525 Garland Road in Dallas. Pumpkin Village is the main draw, but the rest of the grounds are worth your time too, especially the fall flower beds and the lake views.
- Go early on a weekday. Mornings Monday through Thursday are cheaper and calmer.
- Wear walking shoes. You’ll cover a good bit of ground between gardens.
- Plan for photos. Midmorning light flatters the pumpkins, and the art houses are best photographed head-on.
- Have a plan for little ones. The Children’s Adventure Garden is on site (a small add-on fee) if kids need a change of pace.
The Arboretum is in Dallas County, about 15 to 20 minutes from downtown Dallas, about 45 minutes to an hour from Fort Worth, and around 1.5 hours from Tyler. Making a North Texas fall weekend of it? The State Fair of Texas runs through October 18 just a few miles away at Fair Park.
Good to Know
- Where: Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, TX 75218
- When: Through November 1, 2026; daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Admission: Adults $21.95 (Mon–Thu) or $25.95 (Fri–Sun); kids 3–12 $17.95 or $21.95
- Parking: $15 per vehicle
- Tickets: Timed tickets online recommended, especially weekends
- Theme: Harvest Hues, with 100,000+ pumpkins, gourds and squash
Hours, dates and prices can change. Check the Dallas Arboretum’s official website before you head out.
Fall in Texas doesn’t always look like fall, but a few hours in Pumpkin Village fixes that in a hurry. Grab your tickets and go before the pumpkins pack up for the year.
Featured photo: Michael Barera via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
