Here’s your nationwide roundup of garden-related events blossoming in October 2025

Here’s your nationwide roundup of garden-related events blossoming in October 2025—featuring botanical garden delights and Cooperative Extension happenings. Autumn's last fingerprints are in the air, and here are the few that won't slip through your fingers.

Botanical Garden Events (October 2025)

• Halloween at the BOOtanical Garden (Cape Fear Botanical Garden, Fayetteville, NC)
  Oct 23–26 (daily, 4:30–9:00 pm). A glowing, whimsy‑laced family Halloween stroll with lights, costumes, treats, and a bug‑buddy crew leading the way through the garden’s shadows. Dog Night kicks off on the 23rd. Cape Fear Botanical Garden

• Desert Pulse Kickoff Weekend (Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, AZ)
  Oct 11–12. Kick the season off with hands‑on art, interactive photo setups, giveaways, and face‑time with the artists behind the installations. Desert Botanical Garden

• Ongoing: Cactus Clubhouse (same)
  Oct 11–May 10. Child‑centric nature play zone with immersive learning for the little wildlings. Extension | University of New Hampshire+4Desert Botanical Garden+4Cornell Cooperative Extension+4

• Groovin’ in the Garden: Stephen Wilson Jr. (Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Richmond, VA)
  Thu, Oct 2, a soulful evening concert under garden skies. Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden+1

• Groovin’ in the Garden: Jeff Tweedy (same)
  Sat, Oct 25, join the music buzz of this garden‑concert experience. Lewis Ginter Botanical GardenThe Washington Post

• Heathcote’s 39th Annual Fall Garden Festival (Heathcote Botanical Gardens, NJ)
  Oct 18–19, 9 am–4 pm. Part garden‑fest, part car show (on the 18th), part Bonsai Expo (on the 19th)—this is tradition with all the fall finery. Desert Botanical Garden+15Heathcote Botanical Gardens+15Cooperative Extension+15

Cooperative Extension & Master Gardener Events (October 2025)

• Growing Native Plants from Seed (Maine Cooperative Extension Webinar)
  Tue, Oct 7, 6:00–7:15 pm. A down‑to‑earth guide to sowing and nurturing native perennials, complete with critter‑proofing advice. Cornell Cooperative Extension+4Cooperative Extension+4Cornell Cooperative Extension+4

• A Beginner’s Guide to Composting (same series)
  Tue, Oct 14, 6:00–7:15 pm. Learn to build a compost pile that works—seed‑of‑a–legacy stuff. Cooperative Extension+2Fort Worth Botanic Garden+2

• Demonstration Gardens Tours (CCE Rockland County, NY)
  Thu, Oct 2. Wander through Master Gardener‑tended demonstration plots, picking up tips on natives, deer resistance, veggie design, pollinator‑friendly planting, and more. Cornell Cooperative Extension+4Cornell Cooperative Extension+4Extension | University of New Hampshire+4

• Gardening Classes (CCE Orange County, NY)
  Sat, Oct 25, 10:00 am–12:00 pm. Another round of Saturday‑morning classes courtesy of Master Gardener volunteers—the specific topic will depend on the schedule. en.wikipedia.org+11Cornell Cooperative Extension+11Cornell Cooperative Extension+11

• Master Gardener Volunteer Training Open House (CCE Ulster County, NY)
  Thu, Oct 23 and Sat, Oct 25. Curious about volunteering in horticulture? Pop in, meet folks, and get the low‑down on Master Gardener training. Cornell Cooperative Extension+1