Crisp air. Golden light. Colorful chrysanthemums. Autumn at Longwood Gardens is filled with amazing seasonal beauty, and for those who delight in the curious, mysterious, and delightfully unexpected side of fall, this season is full of treats. From thrilling and hauntingly immersive Illuminated Fountain Performances to workshops focused on fascinating plants with unusual adaptations to festive fall floral design, follow along as we uncover some of the most enchanting, intriguing, and spirited ways to experience spooky season in our Gardens.
Stay for a Spell—Enjoy Hauntingly-Fun Weekends
From a cozy, whimsical experience to a spooky-good time, we have two festive weekends perfect for those looking for the family-fun aspect of fall, as well as the dark aesthetic of the season.
Join us October 16 to 18 for our magically fun Emerald City Fountain Fest Weekend as we venture down the yellow brick road and celebrate all things Wizard of Oz. Enjoy three evenings of new Journey to Oz Illuminated Fountain Performance, featuring iconic songs from The Wizard of Oz, The Wiz, and Wicked; music from the Land of Oz played on our carillon; a chance to climb to the top of the Chimes Tower for a stunning view of our autumnal landscape; live Caribbean steel pan music in the Beer Garden, and more. Plus, enjoy themed concessions to bring even more fall fun and flavor to your weekend.
Then, with our final Fountain Fest Weekend of the year, we’re embracing the fun and creepy sides of the season. From October 23 to 25, experience Spellbound Weekend, a bewitching celebration featuring our brand-new immersive (and spooky!) Symphony of Horror Illuminated Fountain Performance and two nights of our colorful Halloween Magic Illuminated Fountain Performance as our fountains shiver and shake to Halloween-inspired favorites.
Making its debut on October 23, Symphony of Horror reveals our darker side. Blending classic silent film, live organ music, and our dynamic fountains, clips from the 1922 vampire horror film Nosferatu are projected onto the fountains, accompanied by an original score created and performed live on the Longwood Organ by Principal Organist Peter Richard Conte. As he plays, select projections of Conte are also woven into the display, enhanced by spooky-inspired visuals projected across the dancing fountains—culminating in a chilling and eerily captivating performance.
Horror movie lovers, we’ve got the perfect late-night experience for you with Symphony of Horror. Photo by Carol DeGuiseppi.
Looking for a Halloween-inspired Illuminated Fountain Performance designed for the entire family? Don’t miss Halloween Magic on October 24 and 25, as our colorful fountains dance along to Defying Gravity, Werewolves of London, Thriller, and much more. Throughout Fountain Fest Weekend, enjoy a climb to the top of the Chimes Tower; a family activity near the Topiary Garden; live polka music in the Beer Garden; spooky Halloween classics played on tour carillon; themed treats, and more.
Join Curious and Captivating Learning Experiences
Autumn is a season of wonder, inviting us to uncover the unexpected. This fall, explore engaging learning experiences that celebrate the beauty and mystery of the natural world, from fascinating plant adaptations to a celebration of fall color in florals to the remarkable world of bats.
Among this season’s learning experiences is Introduction to Tropical Pitcher Plants, in which you can learn how some of nature’s most intriguing species have evolved to capture and digest their prey.
Join us on October 8 to learn about some of the world’s most mysterious plants. Photo by Mary Woolman.
Fill your home with some nature-based fall décor made-by-you with our Dried Floral Arranging class, where you can learn how to dry your favorite seasonal florals and arrange them beautifully. With our Fall Floral Crown workshop designed for all skill levels, create a one-of-kind piece inspired by the rich colors and textures of autumn.
Hands-on workshops are the perfect way to seize the fleeting fall season. Not only are they fun, but they also help you to get creative with your appreciation of natural beauty. Photo by William Hill.
Embrace another mysterious aspect of the natural world with our Bat Basics class. Just in time for Halloween, learn about these often-misunderstood creatures who are as fascinating as they are iconic to the spooky season aesthetic.
Beyond learning about bats, discover how you can protect bat populations in your own yard or community as well as how to install bat boxes. Photo by Colin McCallum-Cook.
Add some history into your seasonal observances by joining an immersive Five Centuries of American Cemetery Design Tour of local, historical burial grounds including Birmingham Friends Meeting and Birmingham Lafayette Cemetery, Laurel Hill East and West, and Longwood Cemetery. Discover how landscape design, plants, architecture, monuments, and changing cultural traditions have shaped these tour locations.
Shop the Season
If you’d like to bring a touch of autumn home, visit The Garden Shop online or during your visit and discover a hand-picked selection of elegant to cozy to cute autumnal décor, books, fragrances, local finds, and gifts inspired by the beauty of fall.
Elegance and whimsical flair take center stage in this beautiful runner for your autumnal table. Complete the look with matching cloth napkins. Photo by Adelyn Duchala.
Experience Autumn’s Colors
Of course, no fall visit to Longwood would be complete without experiencing the season’s breathtaking beauty. With Autumn’s Colors opening October 2, wander the Meadow Garden awash in color, discover harvest-inspired displays perfect for family memories, and beginning October 16, marvel at our Chrysanthemum Festival with vivid displays of horticultural grandeur inside our historic conservatories.
Fill your camera roll with some autumnal beauty … and make memories that last much longer than the season! Photo by Holden Barnes.
Whether you're drawn to the mysterious wonders of nature, inspired by hands-on creativity, enchanted by Halloween thrills, or simply eager to experience the beauty of fall at its peak, there's no better place to celebrate the season.
