Myriad Gardens is giving us pumpkin to talk about

Though Myriad Botanical Gardens never falls short of boo-tiful, it’s looking a little more gourd-geous than usual with its Pumpkinville display in the Children’s Garden. Now that the weather is becoming unbe-leaf-ably nice for an outdoor stroll, you may want to mark your calendar and plan a visit downtown for one of the most festive events of the year! If this introduction hasn’t been too a-corny for you, keep reading to learn more about MBG’s biggest fundraiser of the year.

“We’ve been doing Pumpkinville since 2012, but last year we had to punt,” said Leslie Spears, Myraid Garden’s Director of Marketing and Public Relations. “Our Executive Director, Maureen Heffernan came up with the idea for Pumpkinville because the gardens hadn’t been doing a fall festival. Based on success in her previous experiences with other botanical gardens around the country, she gave us ideas for programming and ideas that could be revenue generating. This one turned out to be really successful.”

This year’s Pumpkinville theme is “The Land of Oz.” Painted murals, pumpkin murals, and daily events feature Oz’s iconic characters and some of the most notable moments of the tale.

“The theme is always really fun! In the past, we’ve had a Western Town theme, an antique circus theme, which were both popular, but people are loving what Oz has to offer,” said Spears. “What’s really come into the forefront for the event are our pumpkin murals. We hire artists from around the community to help bring the theme to life.”

This year, Nick Bayer created the water stage mural which features a scarecrow and a sunrise. Another local artist, Clarissa Sharp, painted two big murals for the event--the yellow brick road and munchkin land. “The artists are typically individuals who we’ve gotten to know over the years. Nick Bayer does a lot of work with art installations throughout the city and we like to support artists who are making an impact in our community,” said Spears.

In addition to being a fun place to visit and enjoy any day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. until October 24, you won’t want to miss the series of events planned throughout the duration of the exhibit. Every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., there are offering Pumpkinville Craft Classes for members and nonmembers alike! Today, October 19, the craft is Scarecrow’s Pumpkins. Participants will explore the inside of a pumpkin, make their own scarecrow, and harvest a bag of seeds to take home to roast.

On Wednesday, the craft is Tinman Tin Can Planters.  Participants will learn about the fall-loving flower, the pansy, and Fall vegetables like lettuce and greens. Each crafter will get their own tin can planter to decorate and fill with pansies or lettuce seeds.

The final craft class will happen on Thursday, October 21 and will feature the Cowardly Lion! This class explores the benefits of creepy crawlers, inspiring bravery around these friendly creatures who sometimes get a bad rep. Class participants will make their own crawling creatures to take home.

Tonight, October 19, is Sensory Night, which is a special event for families and children with sensory needs. Without loud music and big crowds, attendees can enjoy the event stress-free from 5:30-7 p.m. It’s a more controlled environment to experience all that Pumpkinville has to offer.

On Friday, October 22, Pumpkinville becomes the best place in the city for happy hour. Space will be limited, so pre-registration is encouraged for the Pumpkinville Happy Hour Party. The evening will feature drinks and food for purchase and plenty of fall fun for you and your friends.

The final event of Pumpkinville 2021 is the Trick or Treat Costume Contest on Saturday, October 23 from 6-8 p.m. It’s a safe and unique opportunity to trick or treat with your kids along with the full cast of Wizard of Oz. Volunteers and staff will be positioned throughout the gardens to pass out candy.

General admission is free for members, $8 per person, and free for ages two and under. Story time occurs every weekday at 11 a.m. and on Saturdays at 11 a.m. with Glinda the Good Witch. Free rides on Mo’s Carousel are included with admission. Attendees can paint a pumpkin, ride the Pumpkinville Express, or receive face-painting for a small additional cost.

The team at Myriad anticipates thousands of attendees throughout the duration of this year’s Pumpkinville exhibition. Many families will attend and bring their children, but it’s a great place for all ages. There is no shortage of fall photo-opportunities or festive fun at this unique fundraiser! Be sure to head to Myriad before October 24 for a few magical moments welcoming the arrival of autumn.

This article originally appeared on The Better Life OKC blog.