Morris ArBOOretum & Gardens

We’re getting into the Halloween spirit this October at Morris ArBOOretum & Gardens!

Two carved and lit up Halloween pumpkins in a patch of fallen leaves at night.

17th Annual Scarecrow Design Contest

Registration opens for our Scarecrow Design Contest on Friday, August 30... and we're in our VILLAIN era!

Whether a deliciously malicious movie villain or a misunderstood underdog, this Halloween we are going all in on our favorite villains! We can't wait to see your comic book and cartoon references, your sports nemeses, your wrongfully maligned historical figures.

Scarecrows will be on display throughout the Morris October 1 – October 31. Visitors will vote for their favorite scarecrow on-site October 1 – 17 to determine the winners. The top three scarecrows win a cash prize: $300, $200, and $100.

Registration deadline: Friday, September 27

Scarecrow frames generously provided by Tague Lumber.

Morris Pumpkin Cottage

As part of October ArBOOretum Month, we will invite kids of all ages to enjoy the new Morris Pumpkin Cottage, a 100-square-foot exhibit covered in hundreds of pumpkins of various shapes and sizes. The Cottage, a throwback to when the area around the Morris used to be known as “Pumpkintown,” is tucked at the end of the Pumpkin Promenade, a small trail lined with pumpkins, gourds, scarecrows, and more. Free with general admission.