Spooky season is in full swing across SoCal, and one botanical garden is getting into the Halloween spirit with thousands of glowing pumpkins and illuminated sculptures lining its paths after dark.
This fall, one of the region’s most atmospheric gardens will once again get a dramatic nighttime makeover for Carved, returning October 2 through November 1. And this year’s edition comes with a few new things to see, including a new route and illuminated artwork from an internationally recognized artist.
A glowing pumpkin trail through the gardens
Carved takes visitors along a mile-long nighttime trail through Descanso Gardens, where pumpkins, lights and sculptures appear throughout the landscape. The experience isn’t designed as a traditional haunted attraction. Instead, it leans into the atmosphere of the gardens, with glowing installations tucked among trees, paths and landscaped areas.
Some of the highlights returning this year include:
- Pumpkin Forest, filled with illuminated jack-o’-lanterns
- Harvest Acres, featuring seasonal pumpkin displays
- The Descanso Railroad, given a spooky nighttime makeover
- Chainsaw Jenna’s giant wood sculptures
- Rhizome, a colorful illuminated sculpture
- A Día de los Muertos ofrenda near the entrance
One of the biggest additions for this year’s edition is a collection of wire sculptures by Helsinki-based artist Alexander Reichstein. The intricate sculptures will be illuminated inside the garden’s labyrinth, adding another glowing installation to the nighttime route. The Rhizome sculpture is also getting a new home this year, moving to the Oak Grove.
What to know before you go
Carved runs for an entire month, so there’s plenty of time to plan an October night out — whether you’re looking for a family-friendly Halloween activity, a date-night destination, or simply an excuse to see Descanso Gardens in a completely different light.
- 📍 Descanso Gardens, La Cañada Flintridge
- 📅 October 2–November 1
- 🕕 6 p.m.–10 p.m.
- 🎃 Timed-entry tickets required
- 🚂 Seasonal Descanso Railroad experience
- 💀 Día de los Muertos installation
