If you’re looking for interesting fall events for your family look no further than the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. They are hosting several whimsical activities (scarecrows made of giant hay bales! glass pumpkins!), colorful autumn traditions (apples! all sorts of pumpkins!), and more (a sugar beet harvest!), all happening this fall at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska.
AppleHouse
Happening throughout August – October!
Celebrate Minnesota’s apple season at the Birthplace of the Honeycrisp at the Arboretum’s satellite destination AppleHouse, just 1.5 miles west of the main Arboretum grounds entrance. First Kiss apples — the earliest-ripening variety developed by the U of M — go on sale starting with the official opening on Aug. 21.
The AppleHouse is known for its locally grown apples, table grapes, pies, strudels, ciders and gourmet food items, offered from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. North Star Donuts food truck will serve up their famous hot apple cider mini donuts, cold cider slushies and cold-press coffees with fun fall flavors — every day except Mondays. When pumpkin season arrives around Oct. 1, the AppleHouse and surrounding lawn will offer more than 380 types of pumpkins, squash and gourds to choose from for holiday displays and cooking.
In November, the location turns into a Holiday Boutique with apples and squash for holiday baking. Parking and admission are free at the AppleHouse.
Find out more: https://arb.umn.edu/apple-
They also have new pumpkins, gourds and squash with more than 300 varieties to be sold this October at the AppleHouse.
Field Fest
Happening from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6
Experience the harvest season at the Farm at the Arb with this annual family-friendly festival, complete with hands-on harvesting sugarbeets, corn and potatoes; a beer garden and food trucks; live entertainment and activities for all ages. Afterward, take home your harvest — and a deeper knowledge of Minnesota agriculture.
Website: https://arb.umn.edu/fieldfest
Arb Glass Pumpkin Patch
Happening from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 12-14
Shop or simply admire a selection of more than 5,000 glass pumpkins and glass garden art made by 12 award-winning, professional glass artists from across the U.S. Artists will chat with visitors about their work and offer free glass-blowing demonstrations daily, while running a furnace full of hot molten glass. Proceeds benefit the artists as well as the Arboretum.
Find out more: https://arb.umn.edu/auxiliary-
Scarecrows in the Garden
Happening Sept. 20 – Oct. 31
This popular tradition of creative scarecrows adds a festive note to the Arboretum’s autumn displays on the Dahlberg Terrace and Scarecrow Hill. Check out the artistry of the experts from Bachman’s, Arboretum staff and members of the community. Giant hay bales, which will serve as some extra-extra-large “scarecrows” as part of this friendly competition. Vote for your favorite!
Website: https://arb.umn.edu/events/
AppleFest at Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
Happening from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sept. 27
Celebrate everything apple at the “Home of the Honeycrisp,” the Arboretum and Horticultural Research Center! Learn all about apple breeding, research, cider making and more from Arboretum experts and try your hand at an apple-peeling contest! Then enjoy fresh local food offerings, including apple-themed fare.
Website: https://arb.umn.edu/events/
Pumpkin Palooza: A Record-Breaking Display
Throughout the month of October
Check out artful displays, including a Pumpkin Tree, Pumpkin Key identifying 400 varieties of pumpkin and squash grown by staff at the Arboretum’s Horticultural Research Center.
Find out more: https://arb.umn.edu/events/
Fall Color Trail Run/Hike
Happening October 10-12
Enjoy beautiful fall colors at the Arboretum with a run! Choose your own course (1k, 5k or 10k) and date and experience the changing season at the Arb. This same weekend, visitors can also shop the Arboretum’s Library Book Sale, Minnesota Herb Society Sale and Auxiliary Harvest Sale.
Website: https://arb.umn.edu/
More!
Beyond all the fall events , the Arboretum is a wonderland of nature with colorful annuals, perennials, vegetables putting on fabulous displays for casual observers and hardcore home horticulturalists alike. Fall color will soon be lighting up Three-Mile Walk and Three-Mile Drive, as well as miles of other walking trails and the gorgeous, newly enhanced Dog Commons. As I mentioned earlier, the Farm at the Arb has a new chef for its gorgeous, high-tech Kitchen Classroom and a new half-acre Foodscape to go with it!
Images Provided by Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.
The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is located at 3675 Arboretum Drive, Chaska, MN 55318.
