Brooklyn Botanic Garden holds its Fall Harvest Festival on Saturday, October 24, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entry 4:30 p.m.). The day brings live music, a beer and cider garden on the Cherry Esplanade, pumpkin carving demonstrations, harvest dance performances, and a 3 p.m. costume parade led by the percussion group Batalá New York. The festival takes over the whole Garden, so there is no regular admission that day: everyone needs a festival ticket.

Tickets

The Garden lists these prices:

  • Adults: $38 (members $29)
  • Seniors 65 and over: $30
  • Youth 12 to 17: $17 (members $14)
  • Children under 12: free
  • VIP: $100 (21 and over)

New this year, VIP tickets come with a festival tote bag, a pint glass and a bottle opener, plus access to a separate VIP bar and one flight of cider and beer from New York State producers. The Garden says VIP tickets are limited.

Music and performances

Two stages run through the afternoon. On the Hay Bale Haus Stage at the Cherry Esplanade, the Swiftly Tilting Planet, featuring Rashad Brown, plays blues, soul and funk sets at 11:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m., followed by Zydeco and Cajun dance music from Rose and the Bros at 2:30 and 4 p.m.

The Harvest Hollow Stage at the Water Garden focuses on harvest traditions from different cultures. At 11:30 a.m., Haiti Cultural Exchange presents Nadia Dieudonné and Feet of Rhythm in a program on konbit, the Haitian rural practice of neighbors working together toward a shared goal, and the music and dance that go with it. At 1:30 p.m., the artist collective Tambor y Caña performs drum and dance work drawn from Afro-Venezuelan music and Venezuelan harvest customs. At 3:30 p.m., dancers from the Redhawk Native American Arts Council perform songs and dances for the fall harvest season.

For kids and families

The Plant Family Collection hosts musical chairs and freeze dance games with host Tracey Wilson and DJ Mike Doelo throughout the day, with prizes. The same area has the pumpkin patch, where the Maniac Pumpkin Carvers give live carving demonstrations and tips, a pumpkin photo spot, and a mini pumpkin and gourd decorating table (while supplies last).

In the Discovery Garden, kids can help paint giant papier-mâché pumpkins that stay on display there through the fall, and visit a seed-saving cart to learn how gardeners collect seeds for next season. The Water Garden lawn has face painting for kids 15 and under, lawn games and a cider press where visitors can take a turn and taste a sample.

Around the grounds, ChalkArtNYC artists draw outlines for an oversized chalk coloring page on Oak Circle for visitors to fill in, the Garden's own library sets up a book display on Magnolia Plaza, and there is a story time at 11:30 a.m. in the Fragrance Garden.

For adults

The beer and cider garden serves sandwiches, sausages and snacks, with beer and cider from Talea Beer Co., Grimm Artisanal Ales, Threes Brewing and Hudson North Cider Co., and canned cocktails from Liquid Fables. At the Hops and Herbs Hub in the Fragrance Garden, Liquid Fables cofounder Matt Green talks about canned cocktails at 1 p.m., Talea Beer Co. walks through brewing and recipe development at 2 p.m., and Grimm Artisanal Ales discusses its Weisse beer at 3 p.m.

Also on the Cherry Esplanade: palm and tarot readings from Larry and Raven (ages 16 and up) and airbrush temporary tattoos by Illuminated Faces (ages 16 and up). Garden Guides lead a fall fruits and nuts walk at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. and a seasonal highlights tour at 1 p.m., all starting on Magnolia Plaza by the building steps.

Good to know

The festival runs rain or shine. Blankets are welcome on the Cherry Esplanade and Water Garden lawns. Outside food and drinks are not allowed, except bottled water, baby bottles and small snacks for people with dietary restrictions; food and drinks are sold throughout the Garden. Frisbees, balls and scooters are not allowed. Accessible seating is available, and the Garden takes accessibility questions by email.

The rest of the week at the Garden runs on its October schedule, Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Wednesday, October 21, from 4 to 6 p.m., the Discovery Garden hosts a drop-in fall seed exchange with a seed-saving demonstration, included with Garden admission. The free Seasonal Highlights Tour leaves at 1 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday through October 31. And Sunday, October 25, is the last day to see the Garden's Block by Block exhibits, marking 30 years of the Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest.

How to get there

The Garden's 150 Eastern Parkway entrance is temporarily closed, so use the entrances at 990 Washington Avenue or 455 Flatbush Avenue. The 2 or 3 train to Eastern Parkway-Brooklyn Museum is a short walk to the Washington Avenue gate; the B, Q or S to Prospect Park is closest to the Flatbush Avenue gate. Tickets are sold on the festival page at bbg.org.

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