Meet Catheryn

Welcome to my blog. Follow along as we explore alI there is to see and do in SoCal including travel, events, food and all things autism friendly. 

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Don't Miss Carved and Enchanted at Descanso Gardens This Fall

Don't Miss Carved and Enchanted at Descanso Gardens This Fall

Tickets to Descanso Gardens Holiday Events Carved and Enchanted are On Sale Now

Carved at Descanso Gardens has a very unique take on the fall favorite Pumpkin Patch. This family friendly event opens October 2 through November 30, 2026 and will features exciting new displays and experiences with many returning favorites. By far the most unique event around and one I highly recommend experiencing! Just when I thought this event couldn’t get any better, they are including Trick or Treating on October 31st.

Never attended Carved at Decanso Gardens in La Canada? For 4 weeks in October, thousands of carved pumpkins line the Camellia Forest with distinct stops featuring interactive activities and light filled activations all along the way. In addition to the elaborate pumpkin displays, there is a pumpkin house and hay maze that everyone is welcomed to explore. The Descanso Railroad will be open to enjoy with a delightful holiday overlay. The Dia De Los Muertos set up in the Amphitheater is another cherished feature that offers guests a chance to write notes to their loved ones in the most beautifully lit space, all adorned with flowers and candles.

 Returning this year! The family of wood spirits carved from five enormous logs by Chainsaw Jenna.

Shipwreck Hallow New at Carved This Year

Returning this year! 3 new ghosts join the family of wood spirits carved from five enormous logs by Chainsaw Jenna. Shipwreck Hallow is another impressive installation which I was blown away by last year, it will also be returning along the trail. This massive installation uses sound, lighting, fog and element placement to tell its story.

New sculptures by Helsinki-based artist Alexander Reichstein, will be featured during this years Carved. Known for his immersive installations, these figures bent from wire and sprayed with fluorescent paint come to life like ghosts with the aide of UV light. This is Reichstein’s first time exhibiting in the United States.

Highlights to enjoy this year at Carved:

  • UV “black light” experiences

  • Live demonstration by pumpkins sculpting artists

  • Special Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) installation at the Amphitheater

  • Differently Themed areas

  • Interactive installations for kids and adults to enjoy

  • Holiday themed sweets and beverages

  • Descanso Railroad Decorated for Carved

  • “Rhizome” installation by Tom and Lien Dekyvere

  • New sculptures by Helsinki-based artist Alexander Reichstein

  • New this year! For the first time ever, you can spend Halloween Trick or Treating at Carved. Included with admission to Carved on October 31st.

Make the most of your visit to Descanso by dining at the newly opened Farmhouse restaurant. This farm-to-table restaurant offers a relaxed yet refined dining experience with sustainably sourced ingredients. Reservations are highly recommended but not required.

Farmhouse at Descanso Gardens

Tickets must be purchased in advance.

Dates: October 2–Nov. 1, 2026
Entry times: 6pm, 6:30pm, 7pm, 7:30pm, 8pm, 8:30pm & 9pm
Ticket Prices Vary by Date: $22–$45 for Descanso Gardens members, $29–$52 for non-members

Children’s ticket prices (ages 2-12)
$12–30 (members) $19–37 (non-members)

Kids under 2 are free but still require a ticket.

The event route is about 1 mile long and takes most visitors about one hour to complete. It is accessible for strollers, wheelchairs and mobility assistance devices. Evenings in La Cañada Flintridge can be chilly so please dress warmly. Participants are encouraged to wear walking shoes. Event is held rain or shine.

Parking is free and available on a first-come, first-served basis Or you can pre pay online for valet parking for $20.

Enchanted Forest of Light will celebrate 10 years at Descanso Gardens from November 22 - January 9, 2027. By night, Enchanted Forest of Light transforms the gardens into an entirely different space filled with the magic of the season, mystery, and incandescence. Enchanted’s inventive installations are created by light, color, and ambient music that transform the familiar garden spaces into whimsical, dramatic, and sublime botanical artscapes.

Returning Favorites and Fresh New Offerings

Enjoy favorites like Flower Power and the Ancient Forest, plus :

  • Enchanted Forest of Light will debut a laser light show on the Main Lawn ending in a “snowfall” finale.

  • Tom Fruin’s luminous house sculptures move to the Oak Grove.

  • Giant Koi will appear in the Garden of Good Fortune to celebrate the Japanese Gardens’ 60th anniversary.

  • A Holiday Market featuring local craftspeople will also take place December 2–6 on the Main Lawn. 1–8:30pm. The Holiday Market is located on the Main Lawn and is included with daytime admission to the gardens and evening admission to Enchanted Forest of Light.

    Please note: vendors will take a break from 4–5pm each day.

Enchanted is a rain-or-shine event. Tickets are non-refundable, have timed entry, and must be purchased on line in advance. Ticket prices vary by date.

Adult ticket prices
$22–45 (members) $29–52 (non-members)

Children’s ticket prices (ages 2-12)
$12–30 (members) $19–37 (non-members)

Dates: November 22–January 9, 2027. Open 5:30–10pm.

Entry times: 5:30pm, 6pm, 6:30pm, 7pm, 7:30pm, 8pm, 8:30pm & 9:00pm

Closed November 26, & December 25

Kids under 2 are free but still require a ticket. The event route is about 1 mile long, and takes most visitors about one hour to complete. We recommend allowing one and a half hours to experience Enchanted. It is accessible for strollers, wheelchairs and mobility assistance devices. Evenings in La Cañada Flintridge can be chilly so please dress warmly. Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable walking shoes.

Descanso Gardens offers free general parking available on a first-come, first-served basis or Valet for a fee.

Dia de Los Muertos at the LA Arboretum

Dia de Los Muertos at the LA Arboretum

Kids are Free in October to Visit More Than 70 San Diego Museums

Kids are Free in October to Visit More Than 70 San Diego Museums