The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

(ORANGE, TX) – Each autumn Shangri La Gardens hosts the largest Scarecrow Festival in Texas with dozens of hand-crafted scarecrows exhibits displayed throughout the gardens. Created by talented folks from community organizations, businesses, schools, churches and families, scarecrow designs range from funny to clever to wacky and weird! For sure, no two scarecrows are ever the same!

This year’s Scarecrow Festival runs from October 10, 2018 to November 3, 2018. Admission to the gardens is FREE!

The Scarecrow Festival is a great way to celebrate the changing season and see what the community creates with repurposed and recyclable materials with a heap of imagination. The scarecrows are innovative, inspiring, and kind to their world! The theme focuses on "environmentally friendly" scarecrows.

Family activities include scavenger hunts throughout the gardens and be sure to vote for your favorite Scarecrow. This is also a great time of year to enjoy a stroll through the gardens and to enjoy the changing seasonal colors of flowers and foliage throughout the gardens.

Autumn Fair, Saturday, November 3, 2018, is the last day of the Scarecrow Festival each year and a day of family harvest fun at Shangri La Gardens. The scarecrow winners will be announced and awards will be distributed. Activities include face painting, raffles for prizes, live animal shows, games and activities, and of course the last chance to see the scarecrows!

According to Director, Rick Lewandowski, Shangri La Garden’s beloved Scarecrow Festival is a perfect way to spend time with the family and enjoy the talents of so many scarecrow exhibit artists. Don’t forget that the gardens are in all their splendor during this time of year, too.

All of this and more is waiting for you at Shangri La Gardens, 250+ acre oasis in the heart of Orange, Texas. Visit often to see the changes each season brings with new plant displays, programs, and events.

Shangri La Gardens is located at 2111 W. Park Avenue in Orange, Texas and is open Tuesday – Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for strolling and exploration. Be sure to visit our website (www.shangrilagardens.org) to check out our fall programs as well as signature events throughout the year.

About Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center

Shangri La is a 250+ acre space in Orange, Texas, along the waterways of Adams Bayou that combines botanical gardens and an education nature center in a unique way.

Imagine a place where you can escape the routine and stroll along garden paths surrounded by fragrant flowers.

Bird watch for hours or take a naturalist-led excursion along Adams Bayou to see the wonders of nature, learn about the environment and its care, discover animals in their natural habitats and spend time with friends and family.

Enjoy the Children’s Garden that delights the young and young-at-heart, gain a new sense of environmental stewardship and participate in classes and workshops that promote “green” ethics and life-long learning for all ages.

Shangri La is a program of the Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation, a private operating foundation that aims to encourage and assist education and to improve and enrich the quality of life in Southeast Texas by providing significant resources for the study and enjoyment of art, history, nature and culture.

Located at 2111 West Park Avenue in Orange, Texas, Shangri La is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. For more information call 409-670-9113 or visit shangrilagardens.org