10 Magical Reasons to Visit The Garden This Fall

When a new family moves to the Rocket City, one of the first things we like to tell them is to take the kids to the Huntsville Botanical Garden. “It’s my favorite place in the world,” six year-old Lucy likes to tell her friends. While HBG is fun year-round, there’s just something about visiting in the Fall that we like best. Don’t just take Lucy’s word for it…
Our Top 10 Fall Activities for Families at the
Huntsville Botanical Garden in 2020
1. Festifall Celebration
This two-month Fall celebration encompasses All Things Fall! As the air turns crisp and the leaves begin to change color, there’s no better place to connect with nature and enjoy the beauty of autumn than the Huntsville Botanical Garden.
2. Legendary Scarecrows
With a picturesque Pumpkin Patch, nothing says family fun like the ever-popular Scarecrow Trail at HBG! This year’s scarecrows are nature-themed, and as always, the scarecrows are created by local community members. Amp up the spooky fun for older kids with a Scarecrow Trail Night Hikes September 11th and 25th.

3. Family Campouts
Ready to take your little ones camping but not sure how they’ll do? HBG has some wonderful Family Campouts planned where you can tent camp inside the Garden in a safe, enclosed (and fun!) environment! Mark your calendars for September 18-19 & October 2-3 – just be sure to reserve your spot online in advance.
4. 2020 Fall Break Kid’s Camp
HBG offers a camp option for all of Fall Break week October 5-9, 2020. Flexible options make it easy to attend the whole week or just on the days you need. There will be fun activities planned every day just for kids! Sign up here – spots are going fast!
5. So Many Photo Opportunities!
Between the gorgeous Fall mums, seasonal pumpkin displays, and the tractor & wagon scene, September – October is a great time to head to HBG with your camera and your family. They even stay open a bit later for the “Golden Hour” on Wednesdays for that very reason!
6. HBG Fall Plant Sale
Did you know the fall is the BEST time to plant trees, shrubs, and perennials in your garden? October 9-24th, 2020 will be the 11th year The Garden will share its native trees and shrubs, ornamental plants, fall vegetables, and pansies with you! They also offer a limited number of specially-selected pollinator trees and shrubs at their Fall Plant Sale. Swing by during their eight days throughout October (all Fridays and Saturdays, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.), and each date has a limited capacity.
7. Learn Something New
Kids love the Huntsville Botanical Garden, and there’s a great new program that combines nature and STEM just for kids in grades K-8! Nature Academy classes are a two-hour adventure into science at the Garden led by our certified educators. They are open to all homeschool, public school, and private school students in the area. Pre-register in advance.
8. The Garden Railway
A very popular spot on HBG grounds, this adorable miniature train runs through a model European village. features a church, fire station, restaurant, and homes amid a waterfall, two ponds (with fish) and a stream. Forests, a bog area, and a farm complete the scene.
9. Purdy Butterfly House
The nation’s largest open-air butterfly house is open through September and is home to over 1,500 native butterflies (and some turtles, too). Enjoy a stroll among our winged friends and the waterfalls, ponds, streams, and lush vegetation.
10. Bootanica!
Hands down, this is our favorite Halloween event in town for the Eight & Under crowd…. Unfortunately it’s on a 2020 hiatus due to Covid-19. This spooktacular event is all about Halloween fun, with crafts, games, face painting, music, hayrides, and more. Visit the BOOtterfly House for Trick or Treating and join in the popular Costume Parade! We still want to mention it here so you can make plans for 2021!
You Might Also Like…
Rocket City Mom is a website about raising children in and around Huntsville, Alabama. Started in late 2010 by a local mom and newcomer to Huntsville, Rocket City Mom has grown into a thriving community of local parents and now boasts a staff of four, thirteen regular contributors, and tens of thousands of Tennessee Valley readers making it the #1 Parenting Resource in North Alabama.
You have a terrific web site. I lived in Huntsville from 1980 to 2004. I witnessed the beginning of the HBG. I am curious do you know who provided the funding for the beautiful building ?
Thank You,
Mike Noble
Hi Mike! I believe they had some generous donations from individuals and the community as well as some grants. I bet they would be happy to tell you more details if you called! We absolutely love HBG.