October at Thanksgiving Point is packed with fall color, family traditions, Halloween fun, seasonal events, and plenty of reasons to spend the day exploring. Whether your perfect fall day includes wandering through colorful gardens, running past scarecrows, meeting animals, discovering dinosaurs, or celebrating Día de los Muertos, there is something happening all month long.
Here are some of the best things to do at Thanksgiving Point this October.
1. Explore Scarecrow Festival
One of Thanksgiving Point’s favorite fall traditions returns to Ashton Gardens October 12–17. During Scarecrow Festival, 50 acres of Ashton Gardens are filled with imaginative scarecrows and creatively carved pumpkins submitted by members of the community.
As you explore the gardens, you can discover unique scarecrow displays surrounded by fall colors, seasonal landscaping, and beautiful garden views. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, guests can also enjoy local vendors, family-friendly activities, and seasonal food. It is part art walk, part fall festival, and one of the best ways to enjoy October at Ashton Gardens.
2. Run the Scarecrow 5K
Looking for a more active way to celebrate fall? The Scarecrow 5K takes place October 17 and winds through Ashton Gardens and the Discovery Garden. Runners can come in costume, enjoy the fall scenery, and pass community-created scarecrows along the course. It is a fun race for families, casual runners, and anyone looking for a different kind of October morning. And keep your eyes open while you run. Some of those scarecrows might just come to life.
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3. See Fall Colors at Ashton Gardens
You do not have to drive up a canyon to enjoy fall color. Ashton Gardens transforms throughout the season as trees begin turning shades of red, orange, and gold.
Take a slow walk through the gardens, explore the pathways, stop by the waterfalls, and enjoy the changing landscape. October is also one of the best times of year to bring your camera and capture family photos surrounded by fall color. Pair your visit with Scarecrow Festival and you can enjoy two fall traditions at once.
4. Make Cornbelly’s Part of Your Fall Plans
Cornbelly’s is one of the most popular fall traditions in the area, and Thanksgiving Point members have an extra reason to visit this season.
Through October 31, guests who purchase or renew a Family Level or higher Thanksgiving Point membership with auto-renew will receive one free Cornbelly’s Season Pass, a $100 value. The Season Pass can be used at Cornbelly’s locations in Lehi and Spanish Fork, as well as Frightbelly’s, making it a fun bonus for families who already plan to spend plenty of time enjoying fall activities. Cornbelly’s is a separate company from Thanksgiving Point, but the two make an easy fall pairing. Spend part of the day exploring Thanksgiving Point, then head over for corn mazes, pumpkins, rides, games, seasonal food, and classic fall fun.
Already a member? Renewing now adds an additional year to your current membership, so you do not have to wait until your membership is about to expire to take advantage of the promotion. The complimentary Cornbelly’s Season Pass is available with qualifying Family Level and higher auto-renew memberships purchased or renewed through October 31. Some exclusions apply.
5. Celebrate Día de los Muertos
Experience a vibrant celebration of culture, tradition, and community at Día de los Muertos at Thanksgiving Point on October 24. Enjoy colorful displays, live entertainment, traditional music and dance, hands-on activities, and meaningful ways to learn about this special holiday. Bring the whole family and celebrate the memories and traditions that make Día de los Muertos so meaningful.
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6. Celebrate Spooktober at Thanksgiving Point
Get ready for a whole month of Halloween fun during Spooktober at Thanksgiving Point. Come in costume and explore pumpkin-filled adventures, festive Daily STEM Discovery programs, scavenger hunts, dance parties, and spooky surprises across the Discovery Centers. From Barnyard BOO at Curiosity Farms and Pumpkin Glow Nights at the Museum of Natural Curiosity to Dinos After Dark and creepy-crawly fun at Butterfly Biosphere, there’s something festive happening throughout October. Many Spooktober activities are included with regular venue admission and are free for Thanksgiving Point members.
Fall Fun With a Bigger Purpose
Thanksgiving Point is a nonprofit organization with a mission to help kids grow through curiosity, compassion, and confidence. Every ticket, membership, and visit helps support Every Kid Counts, an initiative that gives more children across Utah access to hands-on learning experiences. So when your family spends a fall day exploring, playing, and learning together, you are also helping make those experiences possible for more kids.
Plan Your October at Thanksgiving Point
Fall goes fast, and October is one of the most exciting times of the year at Thanksgiving Point. From Scarecrow Festival and the Scarecrow 5K to Spooktober, Día de los Muertos, fall colors, dinosaurs, butterflies, animals, and Cornbelly’s, there are plenty of ways to make new fall memories. Pick your favorites, grab your sweater, and start planning your October visit.