The New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) is offering a full lineup of fall favorites this weekend, October 18 and 19, 2025, with pumpkin carving demonstrations, one of the world’s largest pumpkins on display, a Corpse Flower preparing to bloom, and the WICKED Broadway Garden bringing a splash of theatrical color to the season.

Visitors can head to the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory Plaza on Saturday, October 18, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for NYBG’s fifth annual Pumpkin Carve-Off, hosted by professional sculptor and pumpkin carver Adam Bierton. Three master carvers will go head-to-head, transforming pumpkins into intricate, imaginative creations.

Bierton—best known for his 3D pumpkin carvings and his victory on Food Network’s Halloween Wars—returns on Sunday, October 19, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Leon Levy Visitor Center to demonstrate his signature carving techniques. Visitors will also get the chance to meet Art Kaczinski, grower of a 2,112.5-pound pumpkin from Erving, Massachusetts, at 1 p.m., where he’ll share insights into the world of giant pumpkin growing and deseeding demonstrations.

Inside the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, a rare Corpse Flower (Amorphophallus titanum) is on display, preparing for its unpredictable and famously pungent bloom. The tropical plant, native to Sumatra, Indonesia, emits an odor resembling rotting meat during its brief 24–36-hour peak bloom—a natural spectacle that first captivated New Yorkers when it bloomed at NYBG in 1937.

Adding to the seasonal magic, the WICKED Broadway Garden, inspired by the hit musical, runs through November 2at NYBG’s Home Gardening Center. Visitors can stroll through vibrant displays of pink and green foliage, inspired by the story’s “good” and “wicked” themes. Plants such as chrysanthemums, ruby grass, ornamental cabbages, and agaves create a living homage to the world of WICKED, offering photo ops and inspiration for home gardeners.

The garden’s fall programming continues into November, including the Giant Pumpkin Carving (October 23–26), Fall Forest Weekend (November 1–2), and Kiku: Spotlight on Tradition (November 1–16), which showcases Japanese chrysanthemums trained into spectacular traditional forms. Visitors can also explore Van Gogh’s Flowers, on view through October 26, where living floral installations bring the artist’s famous paintings to life.

Whether drawn by the scent of the Corpse Flower, the spectacle of giant pumpkins, or the artistry of fall foliage, this weekend at NYBG offers something for everyone — a celebration of art, nature, and autumn wonder.

For tickets and details, visit nybg.org.