Few things say “autumn harvest” quite like scarecrows, hayrides and pumpkin patches. And each year in October, one harvest-themed event held at a signature Murrells Inlet attraction gives fans of the Grand Strand the chance to take in all of these things and more — and do it while enjoying a getaway to the Myrtle Beach area.
Set for October 5 and 6 in 2019, the Harvest Home Weekend festival is held annually at Brookgreen Gardens, and each year the highly anticipated event attracts thousands of visitors to the acclaimed sculpture gardens for some quintessentially fall activities like pumpkin painting, scarecrow building and hayrides. To sweeten the deal even further, the fall fun is rounded out with great food, live entertainment and close-up encounters with animals from Brookgreen Gardens’ Lowcountry Zoo.
The autumn-themed activities run from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, and highlights include:
Hayrides: Priced at $4 per person, hayrides depart the festival grounds between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day. Tickets for scheduled departure times are sold at cashier stations on the festival grounds.
Pumpkin Patch/Pumpkin Painting: For a small fee ($4 for a small pumpkin, and $9 for a large pumpkin — tickets available at the on-site cashier stations), guests can choose their favorite pumpkins form the pumpkin patch, then let their creative juices flow with the free pumpkin-painting activity.
Scarecrow Building: Guests can build their own scarecrows on-site during the scarecrow-building contest, then take their creations home if they’d like for a $5 fee.
Beyond the seasonal festival’s events, attendees get the opportunity to explore all of Brookgreen Gardens’ regular, year-round attractions. Found about 30 miles south of North Myrtle Beach (and 20 miles south of Myrtle Beach) in Murrells Inlet, the 9,100-acre sculpture garden and wildlife preserve offers a collection of lush and expansive botanical gardens, each with its own distinct theme. The grounds, featuring 2,000-plus artworks by more than 400 artists, also showcase the nation’s most comprehensive collection of American figurative sculpture. Other on-site attractions include nature trails, a butterfly garden, historic rice plantations and the Lowcountry Zoo.
To learn more about Harvest Home Weekend at Brookgreen Gardens, visit brookgreen.org. After your day of fun in Murrells Inlet, head for your comfortable coastal accommodations at The Cottages at North Beach Plantation to relax, enjoy the wide-ranging on-property amenities and rest up for more adventures in the Myrtle Beach area. Book your fall Grand Strand getaway today — and start looking forward to some good times on the Carolina coast.
