Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center invites the community to celebrate the fall season during Autumn Fair on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. This free, family-friendly event marks the grand finale of the 16th Annual Scarecrow Festival with hands-on activities, seasonal fun and the announcement of this year’s scarecrow winners.
Scarecrow Festival, held October 6-24, welcomes visitors to explore fall flowering displays, thousands of pumpkins and more than 50 unique scarecrow exhibits created by local businesses and organizations. Featuring recycled and repurposed materials, these one-of-a-kind displays are always innovative, kind to their world and showcase the creativity of the community.
“Autumn Fair brings together so many of the things we love about fall at Shangri La Gardens,” said Angie Mason, executive director of Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center. “From discovering nature to enjoying seasonal activities and exploring the scarecrow displays, it’s a day filled with opportunities for families to spend time together and enjoy the beauty of the Gardens.”
Throughout Autumn Fair, guests of all ages can enjoy a variety of hands-on activities, including pumpkin decorating, hayrides, a scavenger hunt, an obstacle course and opportunities to discover some of the critters that call the Gardens home. Visitors can also experience the natural beauty of Adams Bayou on a pontoon boat ride during an Outpost Tour!
Autumn Fair also offers the final opportunity to view the creative scarecrow exhibits and cast a vote for a favorite. Winners of the Scarecrow Festival voting will be announced during the afternoon, recognizing the creativity and hard work of participating businesses and organizations.
“It’s always exciting to see the creativity and enthusiasm our community brings to Scarecrow Festival each year,” said Mason. “We look forward to welcoming families to Autumn Fair for a day of fun, exploration and making memories together in the Gardens.”
All Autumn Fair activities are free, and no reservations are required. Activities conclude at 3 p.m., but visitors are welcome to continue exploring the Gardens until 5 p.m., with last entry at 4:30 p.m.
Following the conclusion of Autumn Fair activities at 3 p.m., any remaining pumpkins will be available for guests to take home. Visitors are kindly asked to take no more than three pumpkins so that more families can enjoy taking pumpkins home.
Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center is located at 2111 West Park Avenue in Orange, Texas. For more information about Autumn Fair and Scarecrow Festival, visit shangrilagardens.org/scarecrow.
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