Autumn’s Colors

October 2–November 15, 2026
Timed Tickets & Member Reservations
An old stone farmhouse with red shutters sits in the left background, fronted by yellow meadow flowers and foliage.
Carol DeGuiseppi

Fall is Full of Treats

Beautiful by day and bewitching by night, autumn casts its spell across our Gardens. 

Fall’s finest blooms captivate. Vibrant hues mesmerize. Harvest-inspired displays beckon, inviting you into a world of wonder. 

As night falls, the magic deepens. Illuminated fountains dance to frighteningly fun favorites. Enchanting experiences await for all ages. 

Beginning October 16, Chrysanthemum Festival comes alive in an extraordinary spectacle of color and imagination, while select evenings bring delightfully spooky surprises. 

Autumn at Longwood: no tricks, all treats.

Chills & Thrills

  • Spellbound Weekend
    Fans and jets of fountain water bathed in lavender light rise above silhouettes of guests on a stone observation balcony.

    Fountain Fest

    Spellbound Weekend

    Free with Gardens admission. It’s a spooky good time for all, complete with a special Friday Illuminated Fountain Performance set to live organ music, and our family-favorite Halloween Magic on Saturday and Sunday.

    October 23, 24, 25, 2026; 5:00–9:00 pm

October 2–November 1, 2026

Gardens Open
10:00 am–6:00 pm
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday

10:00 am–9:00 pm
Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Closed Tuesdays

November 2–15, 2026

Gardens Open
10:00 am–5:00 pm
Wednesday–Monday

Closed Tuesdays

Free with Gardens Admission

Timed Admission Tickets required

Timed Reservations required for Members after 3:00 pm Fridays–Sundays through November 1, 2026

Reservations not required for Gardens Premium Members and Innovators

Tickets & Reservations

Buy Timed Tickets
Make Member Reservations
Daytime fountains dance against a backdrop of changing fall foliage.

Main Fountain Garden

Fountain Performances

Our Main Fountain Garden dazzles with playful daytime shows and exhilarating Illuminated Fountain Performances. Now through November 1, 2026.

View Daytime Fountain Performance schedule
View Illuminated Fountain Performance schedule

Festive Fall Fun

Yellow mums trained in two pagoda forms, with white mums in foreground and hanging baskets in background.

Now–November 15, 2026

Chrysanthemum Festival

Chrysanthemum Festival comes alive in an extraordinary spectacle of color and imagination in our historic conservatories, including some supersized surprises.

Learn more
A horticulturist squats to work on specialty mums in training, amid a greenhouse of chrysanthemum forms in training.

October 24, 2026, 1:00–3:00 pm

Meet Us at the Mums

Free with Gardens Admission. Advance registration required. Join members of Longwood’s Science team stationed throughout the historic conservatories as we share our techniques, research, and horticultural mastery behind our iconic Chrysanthemum Festival.

Learn more & register

Learn Something New

Browse Upcoming Classes

Celebrate Autumn in Our Gardens

a path through trees and shrubs in brightly colored autumn hues

Fall foliage reaches its peak in October

avender orbs and spiral chrysanthemum forms along a walkway flanked by vine-covered columns

Bold colors, specialty forms, and our horticultural savvy shine

a miniature orange and black train engine pulls three coal cars on a track amid grasses, foliage, and purple flowers

Our miniature model trains rumble through a beautifully landscaped seasonal display

 

a brick 2-story farmhouse with brown roof and red shutters with field in front and trees in background, against a cloudy sky

Wander 83 acres of beauty and visit the Webb Farmhouse & Galleries

Find Your Way

Visit our mobile map to explore the Gardens before you visit and navigate to highlighted features during your visit. Or download a printable map.

Mobile Map
Printable Map

Dine With Us

From Our Blog

See more on our blog
A Festival in Full Form
A vibrant close-up of deep red and copper-colored pompon chrysanthemums with tightly packed petals and green foliage.

A Festival in Full Form

By Meghan Siano, on October 21, 2026
A Spooky Season Lover’s Guide to the Gardens
A pale, ribbed white pumpkin rests on dark soil, partially framed and framed by deep purple and green foliage in an outdoor garden bed.

A Spooky Season Lover’s Guide to the Gardens

By Katie Testa, on September 30, 2026
Fall-Sown Hardy Spring Flowers: Prepare Now for Next Year
A close-up shot of round, vibrant purple Allium 'Purple Sensation' flowers blooming in the Annual Corridor in May 2026, set against a dark green hedge and a blurred stone pathway.

Fall-Sown Hardy Spring Flowers: Prepare Now for Next Year

By Patrick Greenwald, on September 2, 2026
From Ink to Earth: The Enduring Artistry of the Chrysanthemum
A close-up of a deep magenta, dark red, or burgundy 'spider' or 'fujin' type chrysanthemum flower with long, curling, and tubular petals.

From Ink to Earth: The Enduring Artistry of the Chrysanthemum

By Gillian Hayward and Jessica Turner-Skoff, on October 29, 2025
Stewarding Suiseki
The alt text for this image should be: A close-up, low-angle shot of a small, dark, craggy rock formation carving, resembling miniature mountains or peaks. It sits on a smooth, dark wooden stand with curved feet. The object is centered on a grey, textured table, with a blurred background of dark wooden shelving or cabinetry.

Stewarding Suiseki

By Katie Mobley with Kevin Bielicki, on October 22, 2025

Explore Our Seasons