Scarecrow Hollow 2026 at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden.
Scarecrow Hollow returns to Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden in Belmont for the fall season, with scarecrow displays to vote on running Saturday, September 26 through Sunday, October 25, 2026. It is the gentlest, prettiest way to celebrate Halloween in the Charlotte metro, and it is perfect for families and anyone who prefers their spooky season with garden views.
Event at a Glance
- Dates: Saturday, September 26 through Sunday, October 25, 2026 (scarecrow contest display and voting window).
- Location: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, Belmont, NC (managed by the Daniel Stowe Conservancy).
- Admission: Standard garden admission applies. See the garden's official pages for current hours, pricing, and family event days.
- Official page: danielstoweconservancy.org/visit/scarecrow-hollow
01 What to Expect
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden runs wild with scarecrows every fall: dozens of imaginative, community-made creations placed along the garden paths, each one competing for your vote. The result is a family stroll through one of the prettiest gardens in the Carolinas, with a friendly hunt for your favorite scarecrow along the way. The garden adds fall color, hay displays, and seasonal events around it, so a visit rarely stays short.
What makes Scarecrow Hollow special is the mood. This is not a haunted house; it is whimsy with a garden view, the kind of outing where the grandparents, the toddlers, and the teenager all find something to enjoy at the same pace. The lakefront lawn, the orchids, and the seasonal plantings make it a photography gold mine too.
02 Who It Is Best For
For families with young kids: this is the ideal first-Halloween event, gentle, colorful, and full of things to point at. Bring a stroller, let the kids vote for their favorite scarecrow, and time it with the garden's family activities. It is all outdoors in the fresh fall air, which every parent knows is the real secret.
For empty-nesters: a weekday visit to Scarecrow Hollow is a quiet, beautiful afternoon, and the garden membership is one of the best values in the region if you live nearby. If you have recently downsized and are putting down roots in Belmont, Mount Holly, or the western suburbs, this is the kind of local gem worth building a routine around.
For relocators: Belmont and the Catawba River towns are increasingly popular with buyers who want small-town life near Charlotte, and a garden visit is a lovely way to preview the area's quality of life. Pair Scarecrow Hollow with a drive through downtown Belmont and you will understand the appeal quickly.
03 Plan Your Visit
The display runs a full month, through October 25, which means you can pick your weather. Mornings are the calmest, and the misty early light makes the scarecrows look their best. Check the garden's official pages before you go for current hours, admission, and any family event days, then give yourself two to three hours to see it properly. Bring a camera and a few dollars for the gift shop, which carries some of the best seasonal finds in the area.
If a visit to the garden leaves you wondering about life in Belmont or the river towns, I would love to talk. It is one of the areas I am watching closest for buyers who want character, community, and value in one package.
Belmont and the River Towns Are Worth a Look.
Small-town charm, a quick commute, and real value for the dollar. Book a free consultation and let us see if Belmont, Mount Holly, or the surrounding area is your kind of home.
Book Your Free ConsultationOr send a note through the contact page. I answer quickly.
Official Links
Keep Reading
20 years of expertise. Dual Metro. Same unstoppable results.
Tracey De Simon