(CLEVELAND) September 7, 2023 – Fall in love with the Holden Arboretum and all its beauty during the new season starting with Fall Forest Fest, a celebration of autumn every weekend in October featuring live performances, wagon rides, pumpkin carving, and more! The official start of the fall season is Saturday, September 23^rd. Enjoy unique fall experiences with engaging classes, fun family activities, and the best views of fall color in Northeast Ohio on the Murch Canopy Walk and Kalberer Emergent Tower. Purchase tickets at holdenfg.org.  

FALL COLOR WATCH 

Each week Holden will spotlight what trees are changing at the arboretum and across our Northeast Ohio community and when they are showing off their fall colors. Visit holdenfg.org for Color Watch Updates.  

PHOTOS: Holden Arboretum Fall 2023 

EVENTS: 

FALL FOREST FEST: PUMPKINS & POTIONS 

Join us from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. every weekend in October for our Fall Forest Fest celebration. Each weekend in October, visitors can expect to enjoy different food trucks, including Bubble Time Mobile Kitchen, The Dawg Bowl, Rabbit Food, Kountry Krunchins, Eat at the Bus Stop and Off the Griddle. Live performances will include spooky story time, palm and tarot card readings, and music by the Cleveland Wind Trio, Thomas Evanchuck, and Ed Purcell. Themed weekends are as follows: 

• Fall Wagon Rides, Saturday, October 7^th & Sunday, October 8^th: Get a behind-the-scenes look at fall color with wagon rides throughout our gorgeous Display Garden.  

• Costumes & Canines, Saturday, October 14^th and Sunday, October 15^th: Come in your favorite costumes, including your 4-legged friends.   
• Professional Pumpkin Carving, Saturday, October 21^st and Sunday, October 22^nd: The owner and lead carver of Illuminated Carves, Mike Pickett, will showcase his talents.  
• Flannels & Flights, Saturday, October 28^th and Sunday, October 29^th: Don your favorite pattern and look forward to flights of fall beers and wine. (alcohol sales are only on Saturdays).  

Along with the artistically decorated Hedge Collection which has been a staple for years, the grounds will feature seasonal vignettes at key locations on the campus. Greensward Tent Lawn will continue to be a main gathering hub of activity, hosting the Spellbound Stage, Graveyard Games and of course a dedicated photo op. Little goblins and ghouls can enjoy creating a craft in the Autumn Art Studio and discover an Apothecary filled with potions and charms in the area once known as Buckeye Bud’s Adventure Woods. Free with admission. 

ARTISANS AT THE ARBORETUM  

Join us on Saturday and Sunday, November 4^th & 5^th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the return of the popular outdoor marketplace – Artisans at the Arboretum – with Made Cleveland. Discover more than 20 amazing artisans, listen to local musicians, and dine on delicious food at this open-air market. Make plans to purchase unique gifts from local makers for the upcoming holidays! Free with admission.  

LEAF DISCOVERY TRAIL 

Starting on Friday, September 22^nd, appreciate the beauty of fall color by learning about leaf and tree identification at the Holden Arboretum! Pick up a brochure at the Corning Visitor Center and follow the Leaf Trail, an immersive autumn leaf identification activity. Learn how to identify the trees around you by collecting leaves and organizing them by their characteristics, as well as identifying 27 deciduous trees, including tulip trees, dawn redwoods, and golden weeping willows, marked with numbered tags on the grounds. Free with admission. 

EXPERIENCES 

KALBERER EMERGENT TOWER & MURCH CANOPY WALK 

These annual fall favorites are not to be missed! Experience fall color from a new perspective at the Arboretum. The Murch Canopy Walk invites guests on a 500-foot-long elevated walkway that is built 65 feet above the forest floor. The Emergent Tower is 120 feet or approximately 12 stories tall and provides a breathtaking view of the surrounding area all the way to Lake Erie. The structures are open 10 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday until the end of October. Free with admission. 

GARDEN SHOWS 

CLEVELAND ROSE SOCIETY SHOW  

On Saturday, September 16^th and Sunday, September 17^th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., enjoy the 93^rd Annual Rose Show in the Corning Visitor Center in partnership with The Northeastern Ohio Rose Society and the Cleveland Rose Society. Be sure not to miss these incredible roses judged in accordance with the rules and classifications of the American Rose Society. Roses will be on display Saturday and Sunday inside the Corning Visitor Center. Free with admission.  

CLASSES & HIKES 

Learn something new about the natural world around us and how you can better care for it. 

• Core Natural Areas Hike: Come see what’s transforming in Holden Arboretum’s Core Natural Areas. Join us on Thursday, September 28^th from 2 – 4 p.m. for a tour of the newest garden areas at Holden Arboretum. These forested, in-between segments link your favorite gardens and are in the process of being transformed. As invasive species are managed, new plants, trails, and other additions are being added to turn these sites into food forests. Come see the wilder realms that are right under your nose and meet our hard-working horticulture staff! Registration required. Cost is $15 per member and $30 per nonmember. 
• Fall Foray with the Ohio Mushroom Society: Celebrate mushrooms with this special, seasonal foray! On Saturday, October 7^th from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., join us at the Long Science Center for a day dedicated to wild mushrooms and other fungi. We will start with an introductory lecture, then divide into small groups to search for fungi in Holden’s natural areas. We will reconvene at the end of the day to identify our findings with the help of mushroom field guides and experienced mycologists from the Ohio Mushroom Society. Registration required. Cost is $35 per member and $45 per nonmember.  

• Fall Photography Workshop with Ian Adams: Capture stunning autumn scenery under the instruction of a professional photographer. Join us on Saturday, October 21^st and 28^th for a brief introduction to fall photography techniques, followed by a walk around the scenic Holden Arboretum grounds for a photoshoot.  Then on October 28^th, Ian Adams will host a virtual discussion of photos taken during the program, where he will advise participants on how to fine-tune images using Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. Registration required. Cost is $75 per member and $115 per nonmember. 
• Wildcrafting Cordage: On Sunday, October 22^nd from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., join Holden Arboretum Gardner Jessica Burns to get hands-on with common garden plants as you learn to harvest natural fibers to make cordage. This beginner class will teach you to identify native and ornamental plants used for fiber crafts, how to ethically harvest and process them, and simple techniques for making natural cordage. Registration required. Cost is $35 per member and $50 per nonmember. 

The Holden Arboretum is open from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, and closed to the public on Mondays. Admission is $20 for adults, $14 for children ages 3 – 12 and free for Holden Forests & Gardens members. 

About Holden Forests & Gardens and the Holden Arboretum 
Holden Forests & Gardens is made up of two of Northeast Ohio’s most important environmental and cultural institutions — the Holden Arboretum and Cleveland Botanical Garden — whose mission is to connect people with the wonder, beauty, and value of trees and plants, to inspire action for healthy communities.  The 14th largest public garden in the country, Holden Forests & Gardens has over 17,000 member households and an annual attendance of over 350,000 for whom we strive to provide inspirational and educational visitor experiences. For more information, visit holdenfg.org. 

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