Photography courtesy of Descanso Gardens
California is known for many things, including having some of the most idyllic weather and beaches and being the world’s mecca for entertainment and tech.
But it has another claim to fame that goes a bit under the radar—pumpkins. In fact, the state is one of the country’s top producers of the gourd, harvesting over one hundred million annually.
One place in particular goes all-out to honor this heritage by making its grounds a pumpkin paradise: Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge, located around fifteen miles north of Los Angeles. The popular destination’s annual Carved event welcomes both young and old alike to its art-inspired, must-see Halloween spectacular every October.
Growing botanical gardens
A botanical garden and living museum, Descanso Gardens existed long before it began its seasonal showcase. It actually started out in the 1930s as the 165-acre private property and residence of newspaper publisher Elias Manchester Boddy, who named the land Rancho del Descanso, the latter word meaning “rest” in Spanish. He also loved horticulture, especially camellia plants—he reportedly planted 100,000, forming the largest collection in the world. Boddy eventually made his property available to visitors and later sold it to Los Angeles County, which converted it from a private estate to a public garden in 1953. In 2007, Boddy’s home was restored and opened for touring.
Through the years, Descanso increased in both space and influence, adding a Japanese garden, rose garden, and other amenities while also officially becoming an accredited museum; today, it welcomes around one million visitors per year. Whether you walk among its approximately 1,600 roses, see its famed camellia collection, or wander through its oak and ancient forests, you’re sure to be enthralled by its sheer dedication to nature.
Carved: an autumn adventure
As engaging as its typical offerings are, Descanso Gardens amps up the visitor experience even more soon after fall arrives thanks to Carved—an approximately one-mile stroll along the generously wide walkways weaving through the gardens, which are aglow with Halloween creativity.
Be sure to have your camera handy since there’s something unique to see at every turn. Enjoy gazing at the thousands of jack-o’-lanterns placed about, including 200-pound behemoths, and dazzling light shows, such as interactive ones that allow you to change the lights’ colors shooting up to the treetops. In the rose garden, you’ll meander past a vast meadow of bushes that mimic dancing fireflies—not to be outdone, the stylish gazebo nearby is similarly lit up for an enchanting rest stop. But watch out for the pumpkin-laden sea dragon lurking in the waters! Plus, there is a seemingly endless array of sculptures and scarecrows made specially for Carved as well as a much-beloved pumpkin house you can enter and a hay bale maze for kids to enjoy navigating, both of which are conveniently located near the food-and-drink garden. You may even be able to catch one of Descanso’s talented pumpkin-carving artists plying their trade.
Perhaps the biggest surprise within all the fun: the touching Día de los Muertos ofrenda, a brightly adorned remembrance altar erected in the weeks leading up to the Day of the Dead on November 1–2. Since it’s a dedicated memorial to loved ones who have passed, you can either simply observe its beauty and solemnity or add your own message or photo of a loved one to it.
Even with these incredible features, Descanso is always looking to up the ante, and 2024 was no exception. Last year’s event included a family of life-sized wooden “spirits” handcrafted by noted wood artist Chainsaw Jenna and an intricate installation called Rhizome hung above guests’ heads in the rose garden, evoking the feel of a flashing laser spiderweb. In addition, both new and regular visitors were thrilled to find an all-new model train display along with the fabled Descanso Railroad ride. The multistory setup was decked out for Carved, as the little locomotives made their way past all-natural, hand-carved bridges, wooden depots, and other buildings awash in an eerie glow.
In all, Carved is a mesmerizing display of fall wonder that will keep kids and kids at heart enraptured. Juliann Rooke, CEO of Descanso Gardens, perhaps succinctly described it best when she exclaimed, “It’s not just a Halloween celebration; it’s a celebration of artistry, community, and the joy of being outdoors.”
Postpumpkin festiveness
If you can’t make it to Descanso Gardens in October, don’t fret—it observes the holiday season with equal enthusiasm shortly after its Carved run finishes. From mid-November through early January, various sections of the grounds are transformed to create the winter-themed Enchanted Forest of Light. This extravaganza is similar to Carved with its jaw-dropping array of sights and sounds, which in 2024 included a vast field of tulip lights, 3D geometric sculptures by noted local artists Serge Beaulieu and Yelena Filipchuk of HYBYCOZO, and a series of lit stained-glass houses by contemporary sculptor Tom Fruin.
The palpable excitement of autumn and Halloween go hand in hand, and Descanso Gardens personifies this mindset to a T when it lights up the Southern California nights with Carved. As you make your plans, keep in mind that timed-entry tickets must be bought in advance and the event is held rain or shine. No matter the conditions, though, it’s an experience you simply must carve out time for.
For more info, visit descansogardens.org
