CARVED at Descanso Gardens is not-so-spooky Halloween fun for families

October 7, 2025

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Descanso Gardens‘ popular Halloween event, CARVED, is back this year and better than ever. We took in every inch of the nearly mile long route through the gorgeous grounds on opening night and loved what we found.

As you’d expect, there are hundreds of jack-o-lanterns, but Chainsaw Jenna’s massive wood carvings are also here and make for fantastic photo ops. A hay bale maze had kids running themselves ragged, and there are even two stops for snacks along the route. The second one was much appreciated as we were ready for a churro after all that exploring.

Gorgeous theatrical lighting illuminates the natural beauty of the gardens, and lots of intricate (but not particularly scary or spooky) scenes can be found throughout, leading up to the “Rhizome” light installation by artists Tom & Lien Dekyvere.

We found multiple fun Halloween items in the gift shop after to take home, so if you’re a fall girlie, budget accordingly. We were treated to a sampling of fall treats from the table service Farmhouse restaurant and immediately made reservations to return. Parents will love the specialty cocktails (we loved the Drunken Pumpkin, a spiced bourbon concoction, the most), and our little one happily gobbled up the butternut squash tartlets.

If you’re bringing a stroller, just be aware that it will get dirty and the terrain can be bumpy. The event was filled with happy kids, so maybe just have some wipes on hand for afterward. CARVED also goes on rain or shine, so check your weather app before you arrive.

CARVED is available nightly starting at 6PM through October 30. You can purchase timed entry tickets here, but be aware that weekend nights are already starting to fill up – don’t wait!