The New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) today announced its public offerings for this fall, which include an array of seasonal activities, programs, and photo opportunities. Reinforcing NYBG’s role as a connective hub among people, plants, and the planet, and as an iconic New York City cultural destination, presentations this season include the return of Adam Bierton, one of America’s leading pumpkin carving experts, and the opening of a new WICKED Broadway Garden in collaboration with the blockbuster Broadway musical WICKED. Visitors will also experience the turning of the season across NYBG’s 250 acres with opportunities to enjoy fall foliage and seasonal plants, such as stunning, colorful displays of Japanese chrysanthemums, without leaving the City.
Additionally, NYBG comes alive again at night with the return of Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail on select evenings from September 25 through November 30, 2025. It’s a dazzling outdoor, nighttime light spectacle, within the historic grounds of the New York Botanical Garden, transporting visitors to the magical worlds of Halloween Town and Christmas Town from the timeless 1993 film, with brand-new scenes, music, and video projections, creating an exciting journey for all ages.
“There’s nothing quite like the feeling of fall in New York, and we’re delighted to offer a beautiful and convenient escape through our dynamic, living collections and seasonal cultural programs right here in the City,” said Jennifer Bernstein, CEO & The William C. Steere Sr. President of the New York Botanical Garden. “Our visitors can immerse themselves in the stunning colors of the season, from our captivating floral displays to our historic Thain Family Forest, all without the need for a long journey. The Garden provides a perfect way to experience the magic of autumn with family and friends.”
In addition to the new slate of fall programming and activities, Van Gogh’s Flowers, NYBG’s current exhibition at the intersection of horticulture and contemporary art, continues through October 26, 2025. Van Gogh’s Flowers immerses guests in the beauty of the natural world that inspired one of the world’s most revered artists, Vincent van Gogh. Through botanical displays and large-scale contemporary art installations, NYBG is transformed into a canvas for the colorful brush strokes of the post-impressionist painter. The floral presentation changes with each season, and the fall offers visitors a chance to experience some of the iconic sunflowers, growing to full height at up to 12 feet tall, that inspired the artist.
Additional details on all fall programming at NYBG follow below, with tickets now on sale at https://www.nybg.org/event/autumn-on-tap/.
Fall Daytime Programming at NYBG
WICKED Broadway Garden
October 11–November 2, 2025
Home Gardening Center
Get ready for a witchy good time as the blockbuster Broadway musical WICKED lands at NYBG this fall! Journey through a collection of vibrant and fantastical plants in shades of pink and green, and a photo opportunity inspired by the hit Broadway show. Celebrate on Saturday, October 11, featuring live performances by members of the Broadway cast, face painting, hands-on games, WICKED trivia, giveaways, and more.
Annual Pumpkin Carve-Off
October 18, 2025; 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Enid A. Haupt Conservatory Plaza
Now in its fifth year, NYBG’s annual carving competition is hosted by Adam Bierton and features three master carvers going head-to-head to create imaginative designs.
Pumpkin Carving with Adam Bierton
October 19, 2025; 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Leon Levy Visitor Center
Witness Adam Bierton’s monstrous and imaginative carved pumpkin designs and learn new tips and tricks to create the ultimate jack-o’-lantern at home. Bierton is a professional sculptor and pumpkin carver based in New York, most famously known for his 3-D pumpkin carvings and his season five win of the popular Food Network series Halloween Wars in 2015.
Meet the Giant Pumpkin Growers
October 19, 2025; 1 p.m.
Leon Levy Visitor Center
This year’s winning giant pumpkin from the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth weigh-offs will be on display at NYBG during the final weeks of October. Meet the grower and stay for deseeding demonstrations and conversations.
Giant Pumpkin Carving
October 23–26, 2025; 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Adam Bierton returns for the pumpkin-carving season finale to carve one of the largest pumpkins in the world, sourced by the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth, into an organic masterpiece. Witness Bierton and his team chisel, carve, and detail a seasonal design.
Fall Forest Weekend
November 1 and 2, 2025; 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Thain Family Forest
The Thain Family Forest—New York City’s largest remaining tract of old-growth woodland—is this year’s fall foliage headquarters. Leaf-watch locally and explore the Forest’s 50 acres full of vibrant fall color—a front-row seat to the best views of the season close to home. This weekend offers activities, tours, and educational demonstrations.
Kiku: Spotlight on Tradition
November 1–16, 2025; 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Nolen Greenhouses for Living Collections
Kiku: Spotlight on Tradition in the Nolen Greenhouses displays Japanese chrysanthemums, or kiku, that have been expertly trained over the past 11 months into incredible shapes and styles. Chrysanthemum blooms burst with color, trained into traditional forms, including the ozukuri, or “thousand bloom”—a feat of nature and intricate plant cultivation, which produces hundreds of chrysanthemum flowers from one stem. Seasonal fall flowers in warm, rich hues complement this must-see spectacle. Join us on November 8, 2025, for a taiko drumming performance celebrating this seasonal favorite display.
Evening Programming at NYBG
A wonderland of moonlit magic awaits as the New York Botanical Garden’s South Arboretum comes alive with Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail. Join Jack Skellington, Sally, and Zero for a frightfully fun frolic through a walk of wonders, now featuring even more of your favorite characters, scenes, and songs from the immortal film. Marvel as the classic film comes to life against the botanical beauty of New York’s most treasured garden—a must-see New York event for anyone who loves all things seasonal, festive, and fun. Back by popular demand with new refreshment and merchandise booths, this ten-week limited engagement runs on select evenings from September 25 through November 30, 2025.
Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail is created by Adventurelive, the producing team behind Broadway’s Hamilton, and LETSGO, the Madrid-based creative team behind Tim Burton’s Labyrinth and Lights in Nature, presented by special arrangement with Buena Vista Theatrical. Bringing the film’s distinctive characters and storytelling to life, the outdoor adventure will feature over 8,300 square feet of dazzling light installations, including interactive video projection, intelligent LED lighting, and 3-D printed sculptures of the film’s iconic characters, including four brand-new scenes. The experience will ignite the senses and invite audiences deep into the world of Jack Skellington.
To supplement the fun, custom Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail merchandise designed by Creative Goods Design & Supply will be available for sale. The new merchandise collection features t-shirts, sweatshirts, water bottles, bags, and more.
Operating hours for the Light Trail are from dusk to 10 p.m. on Wednesdays through Sundays, September 25 through November 30, 2025. Schedule can vary week by week, so please check the official calendar on TheNightmareBeforeChristmasLightTrail.com before visiting. Fans can follow the Light Trail on Facebook and Instagram.
Tickets start at $33 for children and $45 (timed entry) or $56 (flex entry) for adults and can be purchased online at TheNightmareBeforeChristmasLightTrail.com.
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