(CLEVELAND) September 5, 2024 – Fall in love with the Holden Arboretum and all its beauty during the new season starting with Fall Forest Fest, a celebration of autumn the first two weekends in October featuring food trucks, wagon rides on select days, and photo-worthy seasonal displays. The official start of the fall season is Sunday, September 22. Enjoy unique fall experiences with engaging classes, fun family activities, and the best views of fall color in Northeast Ohio on the iconic Kalberer Emergent Tower. Purchase tickets at holdenfg.org.

PHOTOS – COURTESY OF HOLDEN FORESTS & GARDENS

FALL COLOR WATCH

The Holden Arboretum will be a top spot to view fall colors. We will keep our color thermometer updated daily and feature the trees and plants showcasing their fall color best as the season progresses. Visit holdenfg.org for Color Watch updates.

EVENTS

FALL FOREST FEST

On October 5, 6, 12 & 13 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., enjoy festival feels at Fall Forest Fest at the Arboretum, complete with s’mores stations, wagon rides on select days, food trucks, crafts and garden games. A candy corn contest, hay bale obstacle course, and seasonal selfie stations await fall enthusiasts. Back this year is a favorite activity—Flannels and Flights, a ticketed event featuring a taste of seasonal brews. Don your favorite costume and get into the fall spirit with Fall Forest Fest on the first two weekends in October. Dogs on leash are welcome.

LEAF DISCOVERY TRAIL

Starting on Friday, September 20, 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 26 deciduous trees, including tulip trees, dawn redwoods, and pawpaws, marked with numbered tags on the grounds. Free with admission.

EXPERIENCES

PIERSON VALLEY TRAIL

Opening in October, nestled within the serene landscapes of Holden Arboretum’s Pierson Valley, a new hiking trail system promises an immersive and captivating outdoor experience unlike any other in Northeast Ohio. The Pierson Valley Trail is one of the largest hiking-only natural surface trail developments in the region in a generation, encompassing 4.5 miles of exploration through never-before-seen areas of the arboretum.

KALBERER EMERGENT TOWER

This fall favorite is not to be missed! Experience fall color from a new perspective at the Arboretum. 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 tower is open 10 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday until the end of October. Through November it is open weekends only (weather permitting) from 10 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. Free with admission.

MURCH CANOPY WALK

The Murch Canopy Walk will remain closed for the rest of the season, reopening in spring 2025.

CLEVELAND ROSE SOCIETY SHOW

On Friday, September 13 – Sunday, September 15 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., enjoy the 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 Friday – 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.

• Fall Fungi Foray: September 28 from 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Fall is perfect for fungi! Join us at the Long Science Center for a day dedicated to wild mushrooms and other fungi. We will start with an introductory meeting, 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 Holden and the Ohio Mushroom Society. Participants should come prepared to spend a few hours exploring the woods. Terrain may include time off trail, small hills, uneven footing, wet grass, and gravel. Cost is $40 per member and $50 per nonmember.
• Roots: Deep Nourishment from the Earth:Saturday, September 21 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., Roots are high in minerals and polysaccharides offering deep nourishment. In the old traditions, root medicines were gathered in the fall along with root vegetables. Learn about common roots used in herbalism in this class led by herbalist Leah Wolfe. Leah will demonstrate how to identify, gather, prepare, and store roots for winter tea blends, herbal coffee, tinctures and more. Class fee includes a sample to try at home. Registration required. Cost is $35 per member and $50 per nonmember.
• Little Mountain Hike: October 6 and November 17 from 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Experience the wonders of the woods on a guided hike through one of Holden Arboretum’s preserved natural areas. Unique geological formations, diversity of plant life, and its historic use as a resort make Little Mountain a spectacular site. This is an adventurous hike that includes passageways through rocky outcrops and traversing muddy trails. Participants must wear sturdy shoes. Terrain: 2.0 miles, rugged, narrow, muddy, rocks, some standing water, potential snow & ice. No children under 12 years old. Registration required. Cost is $10 per member and $20 per nonmember.
• Art with Heart: Fall Nature Paint and Sip: October 19 from 4 – 7 p.m., Unwind with a beginner-friendly evening of art at Holden Arboretum! Local artist M.E. Kuzma will guide participants through acrylic painting techniques while highlighting the benefits of creative engagement and mindfulness. Enjoy a drink, light refreshments, and fun conversation as you complete a painting (16×20″ canvas) of cosmos and zinnias to take home. Registration required. Cost is $45 per member and $55 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.