Morton Arboretum's Fall Festival adds new events

Autumn is always a season to behold at the Morton Arboretum when green leaves transform into hues of rich gold, fiery orange and deep scarlet at the 1,700-acre tree museum at 1400 Route 53, Lisle. With thousands of trees from more than 40 countries, a walk through the arboretum's woods or the view from its nine miles of roads is a chance to be truly awed by the beauty of nature.

This year, Morton Arboretum celebrates its signature season with even more to offer visitors. Beginning in October, the arboretum will host a slate of new events as part of its Fall Color Festival. In addition to returning offerings like the popular Scarecrow Trail and Glass Pumpkin Patch, the arboretum is inviting visitors to check out events like the storytelling, face painting and live music during Family Weekend, Oct. 10 to 12, and the family-friendly Boo Breakfast on Halloween.

Teens and adults also can get in on the seasonal fun with the spooky and spirited tram tour and night hike, Fright in the Forest, as well as an action-packed Mystery Dinner at Thornhill Mansion.

Fall Color Festival events include:

• Fall Color 5K Run and Walk and Kid's Dash on Sunday, Oct. 4, with the 5K starting at 8 a.m. and the Kid's Dash at 9 a.m. Advance registration is $30 for members, $35 for others, and day-of registration is $40 for members and nonmembers. Advance registration for Kid's Dash is $10 for members, $15 for others, and day-of registration for Kid's Dash is $20.

Participants run or walk through the challenging, newly recertified USATF course that follows the East Side Main Route through rolling terrain and spectacular fall color. Participants will receive a technical T-shirt and entrance to a new post-race party featuring live music. In the Kid's Dash, children 2 to 4 years old will run 50 yards, 5- to 6-year-olds will run a quarter of a mile, and 7- to 10-year-olds will run a half-mile.

• Theatre-Hikes presents "In This Final Century" at 3 p.m. weekends in October and Monday, Oct. 12. In this "War of the Worlds" adaptation, a female heroine saves the world from aliens in a modern-day retelling of the invasion of Earth, or as this story tells it, the invasion of Chicago. The cost is $10 for adult members, $5 child members, $20 other adults and $10 other children.

• The Glass Pumpkin Patch is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, Oct. 14 to 18. Visitors can delight in colorful handblown glass sculptures, watch the artists in action, and shop for one-of-a-kind works of art. Live glassblowing demonstrations, art exhibition, and opportunities to meet the artists take place every day during the event. Glass art goes on sale beginning at 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, and runs through Sunday, Oct. 18. The Glass Pumpkin Patch is free with arboretum admission.

• The annual Bulb Sale is 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 3 and 4. Head to the Arboretum Store to purchase bulbs that will make your spring garden pop with color. Shop dozens of varieties of beautiful Dutch bulbs such as tulips, daffodils, iris, alliums, crocus, fritillaria, and more. Bulbs will be for sale through October as supplies last. Free with arboretum admission.

• The Scarecrow Trail is open 7 a.m. to sunset daily in October. Gaze upon a nature-themed scarecrow trail created by local Scout troops while walking along a scenic one-mile paved path around Meadow Lake. Free with arboretum admission.

In addition to Fall Color Festival family programs, the Children's Garden will host several drop-in programs and activities all October long.

• During Family Weekend from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday to Monday, Oct. 10 to 13, the whole family can enjoy storytelling, face painting, science experiments, critter shows, live music and more. Join Trick or Trees in the Children's Garden, where kids can fashion fun fall crafts and plant a tree seed to take home as a treat. Trick or Trees will take place every weekend in October. Small pumpkins to paint also will be for sale. Costumes are encouraged. Free with arboretum admission.

• The first Boo Breakfast is 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, complete with visits from favorite characters. Costumes encouraged. Check mortonarb.org for cost and details.

• During Halloween at the Arb all day Saturday, Oct. 31, children are admitted free to meet fantasy characters and take part in a trick-or-treating scavenger hunt from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Halloween costumes are encouraged.

• A new Cider and Ale Tasting for adults is 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24. General admission is $35 for members, $45 for others; VIP admission is $55 for members, $65 for others. Those who purchase VIP admission will be able to take part in the tasting beginning at noon.

• A Chef's Table: Italian Vegetarian is offered 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1. Celebrate World Vegetarian Day at the arboretum's Italian vegetarian cooking demonstration, during which guests will enjoy a five-course Italian-inspired meal and demonstrations by the arboretum's executive chef, Danny Ovanin. Two drinks are included in the ticket price and a cash bar is available for additional beverages. Visitors also will take home the recipes. The cost is $55 for members, $60 for others.

• A new Oaks Uncorked event is 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6. Savor the botanical elements of wine while engaging with the arboretum's tree conservation specialist, Murphy Westwood, who will share her research and work with endangered trees from around the world. The cost is $20 for members, $25 for others.

• A new Fright in the Forest for ages 16 and older is offered at various times on Fridays, Oct. 9 and 16. Experience a spirited tram tour and spooky hike through the woods. Attendees will finish the night with live music, cocktails and snacks. Tram rides take place every half-hour beginning at 6:30 p.m., with the last tram departing at 8:30 p.m. The cost is $30 for members, $40 for others.

• A new Mystery Dinner at Thornhill Mansion is 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, and Friday, Oct. 30. As the story goes, on a chilly October night in 1922 a crime was committed during the grand opening gala at the Morton Arboretum's Thornhill Mansion. Join the Mystery Dinner at the Mansion, wearing your favorite 1920s costume and your detective hat. The cost is $95 for members, $105 for others.

Arboretum admission is $14 for adults ($9 on Wednesdays), $12 for seniors ages 65 and older ($8 on Wednesdays), $9 for ages 2 to 17 ($6 on Wednesdays), and free for younger children and members. Parking is free.

If you go

What: Fall Color Festival

When: Oct. 1 to 31

Where: The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle

Cost: Regular admission; fees for some special events

Info: mortonarb.org