Thanksgiving Point plans Scarecrow Festival, 5K for October

A six-day Scarecrow Festival opens Monday, Oct. 12, at Ashton Gardens in Lehi, leading a full month of fall programming at Thanksgiving Point.

The festival runs Oct. 12–17 and fills all 50 acres of Ashton Gardens with community-submitted scarecrows and carved pumpkins, Thanksgiving Point staff writer Cloe Bentz wrote on the nonprofit's events page. On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays during the festival, the grounds add local vendors, family activities and seasonal food.

The week closes with the Scarecrow 5K on Saturday, Oct. 17, a costumed run winding through Ashton Gardens and the Discovery Garden. Late registration is open at $40 through Wednesday, Oct. 14. All finishers receive a race shirt and medal. The course is wheels-friendly, welcoming strollers and running aides.

Runners should note: packet pickup is Friday, Oct. 16, from noon to 8 p.m. at the Ashton Garden Visitors Center Roundabout. Packets will not be available the morning of the race. The 5K registration page also notes that participants do not receive admission to the Scarecrow Festival.

Día de los Muertos

Thanksgiving Point hosts a Día de los Muertos celebration on Saturday, Oct. 24, featuring live entertainment, traditional music and dance, and hands-on activities. Guests can build or contribute to ofrendas, submit a photo of a loved one to a Digital Remembrance Ofrenda, make tissue paper flowers, or enter a Best Catrina/Catrin costume contest.

Spooktober across the campus

Throughout October, Thanksgiving Point's Discovery Centers are running Spooktober programming. Events include Barnyard BOO at Curiosity Farms, Pumpkin Glow Nights at the Museum of Natural Curiosity, Dinos After Dark, and activities at the Butterfly Biosphere. Many Spooktober activities are included with regular venue admission and are free for Thanksgiving Point members. Specific dates and times for individual events have not been posted; check thanksgivingpoint.org for the full schedule.

Membership deal

Thanksgiving Point is bundling a Cornbelly's Corn Maze Season Pass with new or renewed Family Level memberships through Saturday, Oct. 31. The pass covers Cornbelly's locations in Lehi and Spanish Fork, plus Frightbelly's. Cornbelly's is a separate company from Thanksgiving Point, and some exclusions apply.