“Adventures in Neverland” Await You at the Dallas Arboretum This Fall
The crisp scent of fall is in the air at The Dallas Arboretum, and it smells like ADVENTURE of a fantastical, Never Never Land variety. The horticulture team is loving the cooler temperatures as they busily set up a stunning display of 90,000, pumpkins, squash and gourds, and the garden is soaking up every little rain drop. Autumn at the Arboretum is coming, presented by Rogers-O’Brien, and we couldn’t be any more excited.
Final Preparations
This week, the final round of a total of 14 eighteen-wheeler trucks will be arriving to deliver palettes of pumpkins coming here all the way from Floydada, Texas. The horticulture team is putting the finishing touches on our nationally recognized pumpkin village, some whizzing along on fork lifts, others placing every pumpkin by hand. The frames of the houses have slowly molded into shapes. Together, those shapes form a magical land of adventure and mystery, ready to take our guests’ breath away.
Peter & Wendy and the Adventures in Neverland
Our theme, “The Adventures in Neverland,” comes from the genre-creating book, Peter and Wendy, released by J.M. Barrie in 1911. This was Barrie’s most famous work, a story about a boy who wouldn’t grow up and all his adventures in a far off land—second star to the right and straight on till morning—called Neverland.
This year’s pumpkin village will take you to that very destination, Neverland, and remind you of why you never wanted to grow up in the first place. The Dallas Arboretum pumpkin village includes many of your favorite adventures, characters and locations from Neverland, such as the Mermaid Lagoon, the Lost Boys Hideout, and the infamous pirate ship, The Jolly Roger.
The adventure begins at the Darling House where Peter meets his Wendy. Guests continue their journey into Neverland to witness the moment when Wendy meets the Lost Boys in their hideout. Across from the Lost Boys’ Hideout, guests find the very large frame of a pirate ship, featuring the infamous Captain Hook. You might even be able to find him, most likely hiding from a very specific, hand-eating crocodile. The adventure continues, featuring Tinker Bell’s house, a hay bale maze, and a pumpkin patch where you can buy your own pumpkin to take home.
Other Events
We’ve planned a host of exciting events for guests to enjoy after they take in the main attraction in Pecan Grove, including: the return of Mommy and Me Mondays & Tiny Tot Tuesdays, sponsored by Kimberly-Clark, where children can enjoy a petting zoo, face painting and kindermusik; demonstrations by the North Texas Gourd Association, with an opportunity to create your own art from repurposed gourds; a walking class led by SMU’s Applied Physiology and Wellness students; a live concert EVERY Saturday and Sunday from 2-4pm by some of the best wedding bands of Dallas; Oktoberfest treats in October, and much, much more.
We are thrilled that this event is here. The arrival of pumpkins means autumn is in the air, and we are celebrating in a big way. This festival has never been so packed with creative and engaging activities, along with opportunities to make memories, view beautiful colorful floral displays, and capture the smiles and picture perfect mementos that mean we have done our jobs here at the Arboretum.
