Garden to host spooky fun events this month

HUNTSVILLE – As fall approaches, the Huntsville Botanical Garden is casting a spell over the community with its events. Two of which lure locals to haunt the garden for a bewitching time together.

Spellbound

Prepare for a potion at Spellbound, on Oct. 16 through 19, and stroll the cozy, charming garden at this adult-only event.

“This is an inaugural event,” said Huntsville Botanical Gardens Visitor Program Coordinator, Sharon Singletary. “We’ve not done an event like this before at the garden. Spellbound is an immersive fall experience for adults 21 and up. So there is no child option for this event. It is intended for adults. Tickets are already on sale.”

Singletary said those who attend will be immersed in theatrical lighting and scenes, with a performative flair.

“We’re going to have sort of these theatrical lighting and immersive scenes, and we’re actually working with some community partners to get actors to sort of help do some performances that aren’t speaking roles,” she said. “These are not jump scares, nothing like that, but just to sort of have a little bit of bringing you into the moment with the lost souls, haunted hollow or like the little woodland myths in our living Earth.”

As guests navigate the Spellbound night, Singletary said they can explore different spooky scenes and explore the exhibits at their leisure.

“Without giving too much away, there are going to be different zones that you’ll walk through in the garden, you’ll see different scenes, each has a little different theme and it is brought to life,” she said. “We’re blending on our exhibits team to help bring some of this to life, but it really is intended for you to walk around and enjoy this new experience at night.”

Along with strolling at Spellbound, Singletary said guests can purchase a potion or treat to fuel their haunted night. For more information, visit hsvbg.org/ calendar-event/spellbound/2025-10-16.

“We are going to have some food and beverage options available there,” she said. “We’re gonna have one of our bars set up at the pumpkin patch. So it’s not like you walk through and you’re done. You can take moments to different areas, or sit down at a fire pit with your cocktail and enjoy the evening. It’s different than an event where you walk through it and then you’re done. You can stay and hang out.”

Little Monsters Mash

Bring your little monsters and create memories and consume candy at Little Monsters Mash on Oct. 11 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Little Monsters Nash is intended for families with small kids, or school-age, elementary school-aged kids, not saying your teens and pre-teens won’t have a good time,” Singletary said. “The garden is open to everyone that day, but the event elements are just for ticket holders. We’re going to have a DJ. We’re going to utilize the Wick family garden. We’ll have a guest food truck, as well as our food trailer, there with a seasonal menu.”

Singletary said there are many opportunities for kids who attend to make memories, from pumpkin decorating to face painting and more.

“It’s always a really fun event,” she said. “We’ll reach out to our Volunteer Corps, and we’ll have them come out and participate in our trick-or-treat trail. We have face painting, which is always fun. Face painting is always really popular. And we’ll have pumpkin decorating. The kits actually just came in recently. It’s like, no mess pumpkin decorating. It’s not like carving, and it’s not painting, because sometimes you don’t want that in the car on your way home.”

Little Monsters Mash is returning to the Gardens this year, Singletary said, after having such a large turnout last year.

“This is our second year doing it, because it was so well received last year, we are expanding it a little bit, like covering more room,” she said. “I think it provides an opportunity for families to do a bonding activity with their child. They get them out, dressed up and socializing. It’s a safe place to engage your child and socialize. It can be enriching.”

Along with ensuring those who attend the Little Monsters Mash have a great time, Singletary said the Botanical Gardens is working to ensure those who have financial limitations can attend as well.

“This year, we have added a price tier for museums for all valid with an EBT, so families can come and use their EBT if they’re interested in bringing their kids out at that price point,” she said. “So we’re making it a little bit more inclusive this year.”

For more information, visit hsvbg.org.