Desert Botanical Garden celebrates the return of outdoor season with its Great Fall Kickoff Festival, running October 9–18. The 10-day celebration brings seasonal activities, hands-on crafts, live music and fall-inspired food to the Phoenix destination, with experiences for visitors of all ages.
The festival coincides with the opening of Super Bloom by Graphic Rewilding, an immersive art exhibition featuring 21 installations throughout the Garden. Visitors can explore oversized desert blossoms and step inside colorful glass houses filled with floral scenes. After sunset, the installations take on a different character through illuminated color, light and shadow.
Fall Garden After Dark adds glowing pathways and seasonal botanical displays each evening from sunset to 10 p.m. Daytime visitors can explore the Fall Butterflies exhibit from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and enjoy autumn décor, including a pumpkin tree, gourd towers and botanical wreaths.
For families, Cactus Clubhouse offers nature play for children 12 and younger October 10–13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dog Days welcomes visitors and their canine companions October 10 and 17 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Live Trailside Tunes performances take place at three locations throughout the Garden October 16 and 17 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. The separately ticketed Music in the Garden concert series also offers performances October 9 and 16 from 6 to 9 p.m. for guests 21 and older.
Festival activities are included with Garden admission unless otherwise noted. Desert Botanical Garden is located at 1201 N. Galvin Parkway in Phoenix.
