Autumn in the Botanic Garden 2025

September 29, 2025

Tara Rittler,

This past Sunday, Joss and I had the privilege of attending Tulsa Botanic Garden’s annual DIG (Day in the Garden) event. Sadly, Joss had just come down with the cold I’d been battling for several days, so we didn’t stay long enough to enjoy all the fun activities. But we did see Scarecrow Row and the pumpkin patch and ran through the hay bale maze. All of these events you can enjoy throughout October as part of TBG’s Autumn in the Botanic Garden festival. Plus, the garden is open late on Thursday evenings for Bands & Blooms and BOOtanical. More details below.

Scarecrow Row

TulsaKids is participating in Tulsa Botanic Garden’s scarecrow contest for …. I believe our fourth year now? This year’s concept is a Golden Driller complete with a giant mockup of the magazine! Thanks to our art director, Jinger Belcher, for pulling this all together!

Here are a few other favorites from this year’s collection:

Don’t forget to vote for your favorite when you go! There’s a voting box set up in the Visitors’ Center.

Pumpkins and Hay Maze

I love that the Botanic Garden clearly labels their pumpkins and g0urds so you can see what all the interesting varieties are called!

New this year: the pumpkin house! It’s a combination photo opportunity and the entrance to the hay maze. The hay maze is really geared toward younger kids. Joss walked straight through it in about 20 seconds. But it is very nice, and if we’d been feeling better, we may have enjoyed a more leisurely wander through to enjoy all the pumpkins lining the pathway as well.

Oh, and a special shout-out to all the other gorgeous blooms and butterflies in the garden! Autumn really is a fantastic time to visit, especially as the weather gets just a smidge cooler.

Bands & Blooms and BOOtanical

Again, Tulsa Botanic Garden is open late on Thursday evenings (5-8 p.m.) for Bands & Blooms as well as BOOtanical.

Here is this October’s Bands & Blooms lineup:

Oct. 2: Mary Cogan
Oct. 9: Stephanie Oliver Trio
Oct. 16: Paul Roper Band
Oct. 23: Michele Warren Duo
Oct. 30: Monster Mash with DJ Ethan

The music lasts from 6-8 p.m., and food and drinks are available for purchase.

BOOtanical runs Thursdays in October from 5-8 p.m. and requires an add-on ticket for kids. Wear your costume and enjoy fun activities in the Children’s Discovery Garden – like costumed characters and maggot painting.

The character schedule is as follows: