for immediate release

HallowFest: A Garden of Good….and Evil!

Chicago Botanic Garden, October 23 – 25

Media Only:
Julie McCaffrey
(847) 835-8213, direct
jmccaffrey@chicagobotanic.org

GLENCOE, Ill. (Aug. 20, 2009)—Celebrate Halloween in the Chicago Botanic Garden, if you dare, at HallowFest: A Garden of Good…and Evil! from 6 to 8:30 p.m., October 23 and 24, and 3 to 5:30 p.m. on October 25. Visitors decide if they want to take the “spooky” or “friendly” paths, which lead to Halloween-inspired activities in the Regenstein Center and McGinley Pavilion. As darkness falls, the Model Railroad Garden is transformed into an eerie oasis featuring spooky lights strung across its miniature buildings and a ghost train that haunts the tracks of this 7,500-square-foot garden.

The Regenstein Center will be bustling with families eager to participate in ghoulish hands-on activities. Halloween-themed crafts and plant potting projects will fill the Joutras and West Greenhouse Galleries. In Burnstein Hall, decorate pumpkins with funny or fiendish faces to take home. Looking to see what the future holds? Fortune tellers will be set up in the Linnaeus Room to predict what lies ahead. Visitors, young and old alike, are encouraged to come in costume and take advantage of friendly and scary photo opportunities throughout the Garden.

Live, family-friendly performances will be held in the Alsdorf Auditorium and Nichols Hall all three days. The critically acclaimed Bobby “Circus Boy” Hunt, Dave Rudolph (performing Sunday only), and Fred the Vampire will entertain audiences with tricks, games, and contests. Performances begin at 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, October 23 and 24; and 3:30 and 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 25. The Café will be open to HallowFest ticket holders from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and until 5 p.m. on Sunday, serving special monster meals.

Tickets go on sale for Garden Plus, Director’s Circle, and President’s Circle members for $14 on Wednesday, September 9. Ticket sales open up to the public (nonmembers and members) on Thursday, Sept. 24 and are $16. Children 2 and under are free. Admission to the Model Railroad Garden is free to HallowFest ticket holders. Parking is $20 per car; free for Garden members. Visitors can purchase tickets by visiting the Membership desk in the Visitor Center or online at www.chicagobotanic.org/hallowfest. HallowFest is supported by the Jelly Belly Candy Company.

For more information on HallowFest and other Garden events call (847) 835-5440 or visit www.chicagobotanic.org.

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Editors, please note: The Chicago Botanic Garden's newsroom is online at www.chicagobotanic.org/pr. For digital images, contact Julie McCaffrey at (847) 835-8213 or at jmccaffrey@chicagobotanic.org.

The Chicago Botanic Garden, one of the green treasures of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, is a 385-acre living plant museum featuring 23 distinct display gardens surrounded by lakes, as well as a prairie and woodlands. With events, programs and activities for all ages, the Garden is open every day of the year. Admission is free; select event fees apply. Parking is $20 per car; free for Garden members. The Garden is located at 1000 Lake Cook Road in Glencoe, Ill. Visit www.chicagobotanic.org, or call (847) 835-5440 for seasonal hours, images of the Garden and commuter transportation information.

The Chicago Botanic Garden is managed by the Chicago Horticultural Society. It opened to the public in 1972 and is home to the Joseph Regenstein, Jr. School of the Chicago Botanic Garden, offering a broad array of adult classes in plant science, landscape design and gardening arts. Through the Division of Plant Science and Conservation, Garden scientists work on plant conservation, research and environmental initiatives that have global impact. The Center for Teaching and Learning brings the wonder of nature and plants to children, teens and teachers. The Garden's Horticultural Therapy and Community Gardening programs provide nationally recognized community outreach and service programs. A program of the Chicago Botanic Garden, Windy City Harvest is an organic vegetable and plant production enterprise that provides instruction in sustainable horticulture and urban agriculture to residents of Chicago’s North Lawndale and West Side neighborhoods.

The Chicago Botanic Garden is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is a member of the American Public Gardens Association (APGA). The Chicago Botanic Garden is also host to Botanic Gardens Conservation International-U.S., and a member of the Center for Plant Conservation. In 2006, the Chicago Botanic Garden received the Award for Garden Excellence, given yearly by the APGA and Horticulture magazine to a public garden that exemplifies the highest standards of horticultural practices and has shown a commitment to supporting and demonstrating best gardening practices.