Ladew Topiary Gardens in Monkton will host its ninth annual Garden Glow for four nights, Wednesday through Saturday, from 5 to 9 p.m. The autumn event brings hand-carved pumpkins and large-scale art installations to the gardens.
According to Ladew Gardens, this year's display includes 800 pumpkins donated by Klein's ShopRite, a contribution the gardens describe as generous. Those jack-o'-lanterns are joined by giant gourds carved by artists, according to AAA Club Alliance, which notes that community pumpkins are carved by volunteers while the oversized gourds are transformed into elaborate works of art by the artists themselves. CBS News Baltimore also noted Garden Glow's return October 14-17 for its ninth year.
What Visitors Will Find This Week
Beyond the pumpkins, the event features illuminated sculptures, artistic creations, entertainment and family activities, per Ladew Gardens. AAA Club Alliance describes the broader scene as illuminated art installations paired with strolling performers, family-friendly activities and a full musical lineup. This year's performers include Desert Shade, Clendenen Brothers, Black-Eyed Suzies, The Pineapple Band, Higher Education and Gordon Sterling & The People, according to the gardens' own event listing.
Tickets run $40 for adult members and $50 for adult nonmembers, Ladew Gardens states. The nonprofit garden sits in Monkton, Maryland, about 40 minutes north of Baltimore, as AAA Club Alliance notes in its rundown of fall pumpkin festivals.
The Garden Behind the Glow
Ladew Topiary Gardens describes itself as a nonprofit dedicated to public education and cultural preservation. According to Ladew Gardens, its Monkton grounds include 22 acres of gardens and more than 100 topiary sculptures, alongside a historic Manor House and a mile-long Nature Walk. A separate regional lights event takes place in winter: Montgomery Parks said Brookside Gardens’ Garden of Lights would return to Wheaton on November 21, 2025, with illuminated displays. That event is distinct in season and format from Ladew’s autumn program of pumpkins and art.
A Pattern of Sellouts
Garden Glow has a long history of selling out fast. The event sold out in 2018. AAA Club Alliance similarly describes Garden Glow as a longstanding sell-out event, and BmoreArt reported that the 2025 edition, which ran October 15 through 18, was sold out in a flash.
Garden Glow features carved pumpkins and illuminated sculptures, while this year's display includes 800 pumpkins and giant gourds carved by artists.
Art Installations Take Center Stage
While the pumpkins draw crowds, BmoreArt has reported that the real focus of Garden Glow is on illuminated art installations rather than Halloween-themed programming alone. Last year's event included lantern parades at 7 and 8 p.m. each night, according to BmoreArt. BmoreArt's coverage also highlighted Garden Glow's illuminated art installations. BmoreArt noted that edition was described as Garden Glow's eighth year, making this week's four-night run the ninth.
This four-night run gives families and fall-festival regulars several chances to visit the illuminated paths and hear live music.
