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Dallas Arboretum’s Iconic Fall Festival Goes Global with ¡Mundo México!

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Dallas Arboretum’s Iconic Pumpkin Festival Goes Global with ¡Mundo México!

An immersive cultural transformation featuring 110,000 gourds, contemporary Mexican artists, and heritage programming

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DALLAS – Aug. 20, 2025 – The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, which welcomes over one million visitors annually, reimagines its beloved autumn festival with Autumn at the Arboretum: ¡Mundo México!, presented by Reliant, running Sept. 20 through Nov. 2, 2025.

 

Building on years of horticultural excellence that have made it one of America’s premier fall attractions, this year’s festival transforms more than 110,000 pumpkins, gourds, and squash into an unprecedented celebration of Mexican living culture, contemporary art, and cross-border biodiversity, positioning Dallas as a national destination for fall and cultural tourism.

“With ¡Mundo México!, we’re expanding what seasonal programming can be — combining art, culture and education in ways that resonate across generations,” said Sabina Carr, president and CEO of the Dallas Arboretum. “This is a celebration rooted in community, beauty and connection — values that define who we are as a public garden.”

“We’re looking forward to a new season with cooler weather and, of course, welcoming the return of one of the most beloved fall festivals in North America – Autumn at the Arboretum: ¡Mundo México!, presented by Reliant,” said Andrea Russell, senior vice president, Reliant. “This year’s theme is sure to resonate and delight with a special nod to Mexican culture, just in time for Hispanic Heritage Month.”
Living Artists, Living Culture
At the heart of ¡Mundo México! are eight monumental sculptures from Spirit Guides: Fantastical Creatures from the Workshop of Jacobo and María Ángeles. Based in San Martín Tilcajete, a Zapotec community in Oaxaca, Mexico, Jacobo Ángeles and María del Carmen Mendoza create vibrant hybrid animal figures that draw from Zapotec cosmology. Their work is rooted in the concepts of the tona and nahual—spiritual beings believed to guide individuals based on birth date and character.
“Each person is born with a protector—a spirit animal that shares their soul,” the artists explain. “Through these creatures, we blend ancestral wisdom with imagination and color.”
On loan from Denver Botanic Gardens, these large-scale works mark a rare opportunity to see the internationally acclaimed artists’ creations in a garden setting, underscoring the Arboretum’s role as a platform for contemporary cultural expression.

Artwork © Jacobo and María Ángeles. Photo © Scott Dressel-Martin. Exhibition organized by Denver Botanic Gardens.
A Pumpkin Village Rooted in Story
The Dallas Arboretum’s nationally renowned Pumpkin Village undergoes its most ambitious transformation yet, with seven architecturally inspired pumpkin houses, each honoring a different Mexican region:

  • Casa Calabaza Azul – A pumpkin-covered homage to Frida Kahlo’s Casa Azul, celebrating color, creativity and cultural pride (Coyoacán, Mexico City, Mexico).
  • Templo de Kukulkán – A stepped pyramid of pumpkins and barrel cactus inspired by Chichén Itzá, honoring Maya ancestral wisdom (Yucatán).
  • Casa de Flores Wixárika – Pumpkin blossoms arranged in vivid floral patterns echoing the intricate beadwork of the Huichol people (Sierra Madre Occidental: Jalisco, Durango, Zacatecas, Nayarit).
  • Casa Monarca – A vivid tribute to the monarch butterfly migration, with orange pumpkins, butterfly wings and fir branches evoking the Oyamel Forest (Michoacán).
  • Casa del Zócalo – A festive gourd-and-squash house with fluttering papel picado & custom piñata, inspired by Mexico City’s central square (Mexico City, Mexico).
  • Casa Zapoteca – Diamond-patterned walls, marigold garlands and glowing Barro Negro ceramics honor Zapotec heritage (Oaxaca).
  • Casa de Saltillo – Red warty pumpkins, Talavera-style ceramics and serape fabrics pay tribute to regional artisanal tilework (Coahuila and Puebla).

Plus, one monumental centerpiece installation:

Cielo Tejido: A Canopy of Culture and Craft – Suspended above Pumpkin Village, Cielo Tejido is a large-scale textile installation created exclusively for the Dallas Arboretum by a renowned artist collective based in Etzatlán, Jalisco. The colorful canopy reimagines Indigenous weaving traditions as public art, transforming the central walkway into a sky of bold patterns, intricate textures, and cultural storytelling.

By the Numbers:

  • 1,188 hand-crocheted hexagons
  • 180.2 miles of thread used (equivalent to the drive from Dallas to Oklahoma City and back)
  • 3,500+ hours of collaborative labor (about 150 days of nonstop work)
  • 396 square meters covered (larger than a professional tennis court)
  • Weighs just 350 pounds

Blending traditional textile artistry with modern design and color-blocking, the installation invites guests to look up, linger, and reflect.

“This year’s festival is deeply personal,” said Dustin Miller, vice president of programs and learning. “As the curator of the experience — and a cultural anthropologist by training — I’ve worked alongside artists, educators and community members to ensure every detail reflects respect, energy and meaning. ¡Mundo México! is more than a garden display — it’s an invitation to celebrate, to learn and to feel connected across culture and time.”
Cultural Programming and Community Impact
More than a seasonal display, ¡Mundo México! is a platform for cultural connection, ecological education, and inclusive storytelling. Designed in collaboration with artists, educators, and community partners, the festival invites guests of all ages to explore the deep-rooted ties between Mexican heritage and the natural world.

Educational Reach

The festival is projected to serve more than 20,000 students through field trips, with programming designed to support science, art, and social studies curricula. Features include bilingual signage, classroom toolkits, and on-site STEM and cultural learning stops.

 

Botanical Connections

Displays highlight the ecological ties between Texas and Mexico:

  • Native cactus and agave species found on both sides of the border
  • Milpa plantings of corn, beans, and squash—ancestral crops cultivated for generations by Indigenous communities
  • Seasonal transitions reflecting migration paths, climates, and shared biodiversity

“Our region’s biodiversity doesn’t recognize boundaries,” Miller said. “This festival celebrates the natural and cultural connections that unite us.”
Visitor Experience and Information
Admission: Included with regular garden admission; free for members; $25.95 adults; $21.95 children (ages 2–12); free for children under 2. Discounted community access available.

Accessibility: Sensory-friendly hours, ASL interpretation on select programs, and wheelchair-accessible pathways.
About the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden

The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is a garden for all that enriches lives through beauty, learning, and connection. Recognized as one of the world’s top gardens, it offers a broad range of popular events, engaging educational programs, and family-friendly activities. Spanning 66 scenic acres along the shores of White Rock Lake, the Arboretum is also a leader in groundbreaking horticultural research housing a state-of-the-art life science laboratory. Supported by a dedicated board of directors, staff, volunteers, and generous donors, the Dallas Arboretum continues to flourish as a cherished community resource.

¡Mundo México! is presented in partnership with Denver Botanic Gardens, Cielo Tejido collective, and local Mexican-American cultural organizations.
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