It’s a Charlie Brown fall at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. 

It’s still hot in Texas so put on your least cozy coat, call your Peanuts-loving gang and head over to the 18th annual Autumn at the Arboretum presented by Reliant to see the nationally acclaimed Pumpkin Village. “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” is this season’s pumpkin festival theme that will run through Nov. 5. 

With a garden admission, tickets ranging from $14 to $20, visitors may experience Mother Nature’s full fall beauty. The Pumpkin Village displays houses inspired by Peanuts characters created using 150,000 autumn flowers, 100,000 pumpkins, gourds and squash. 

Will McDaniel, Dallas Arboretum board chair, said, “Our event has something for everyone, from special children’s activities to Senior Thursdays, live music, tastings and more.”

At no additional cost, visitors can enjoy fun festival events including live piano music every weekend at Jeanne’s Pavilion; Tasteful Tuesday floral demonstrations at A Tasteful Place; Chef-Tastic cooking demonstrations at A Tasteful Place; and Wine Down Wednesday at Three Sisters Overlook for those 21 and over.

Family friendly events, at no additional cost, include Mommy and Me Mondays and Tiny Tot Tuesdays, where kids can enjoy storytelling and fun musical activities.   

Every Monday until Oct. 26, at an additional cost, the arboretum features Cool Thursdays Concert Series overlooking White Rock Lake. Tribute bands or orchestras play their instruments as the sun sets. 

“It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” kicked off on Sept. 16.

On Sept. 18 and 25, Chef Lisa Roark, Dallas College faculty member, hosted the reoccurring Dallas College Cooks event at the Dallas Arboretum. She created healthy Mediterranean dishes at A Tasteful Place. The past monthly healthy recipes can be found online at the Dallas Arboretum website.

Dallas Arboretum Chairs, Judy Sosbee, Greg Sosbee and David Sharpe, are overseeing this year’s fall pumpkin festival. 400 volunteers helped weekly at the Dallas Arboretum to help build the Pumpkin Village. 

“Seeing the delight in guests’ faces and enjoying the time spent with other volunteers is a rewarding experience,” Greg said. He and his wife Judy first signed up to volunteer in Nov. 2020. 

Throughout the years, Greg and Judy have amassed 2,500 hours volunteering at the Dallas Arboretum. Judy said, “We love indulging our gardening passion at the Arboretum, especially by working with visitors to the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden.”

Volunteers are needed all year round to maintain the gardens, guide visitors, work at events, support staff at the gift store and transport mobility-impaired guests and companions throughout the gardens.

College students who want to gain leadership experience may volunteer by joining the Collegiate Leadership Council. 

Students may email [email protected] or contact the Volunteer Office at 214-515-6561 to learn more.