Orange, yellow, green, even pink.

These colors filled my vision at the annual Discovery Green Houston Pumpkin Festival. Various shades of fall covered the park, accompanied by pumpkins, of course.

Starting in September and lasting until November, you have the opportunity to visit this Pinterest-perfect fall celebration. The autumn vibes were immaculate, and the crisp and sunny weather when I went created the perfect environment to celebrate the season. Everyone was having fun, and there were plenty of opportunities to embrace the fall spirit.

Despite Discovery Green’s location in the heart of downtown, the design of the festival easily transports you to a different setting altogether. The layout made great use of the space, and you essentially tour a large loop around the area with attractions along the way, which had the effect of making the area feel larger, preventing too much crowding despite the plethora of people. Even though I could see the George R. Brown Convention Center looming in the background, that was the sole reminder that I was still in one of the busiest parts of Houston.

The whole area was covered in pumpkins of all shapes, sizes and colors, leaving you without a question as to what you were celebrating. It was cute and cozy, with themed decorations and a classic hay bale-lined walkway. There were plenty of attractions and places to take gorgeous pictures, such as in front of an iconic spelling of “Houston” out of pumpkins, which was one of the heavily-advertised elements of the event.

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Cindy Tint

One of the pumpkin festival’s Pink Trees of Life sits on a hill, overlooking hundreds of pumpkins spelling out “Houston.” There was a consistent line of people waiting to take a photo, making this one of the most iconic parts of the event.

There was definitely a heavy emphasis on the festival’s photo opportunities, which I will admit were amazing. Besides pumpkin scenes, they had other eye-catching setups such as a beautiful Butterfly Chair that overlooked Kinder Lake and the kayakers rowing below (an attraction for the whole family).

Cindy Tint

Many visitors set out onto Kinder Lake, whether on a Bumper Boat or a clear kayak. This was a great way to take a look at the park from a different angle and was definitely a unique experience.

As advertised, their setups were unique and well-made, and you’re guaranteed to get at least a few quality photos after just an hour spent strolling through. There were plenty of photo-worthy moments, so be sure to bring your camera and a smile if you decide to go.

However, if you go expecting your average, run-of-the-mill pumpkin patch, you’re in for a surprise.

There weren’t any traditional pumpkin patch activities to do, such as pumpkin carving or carnival games, for example. There also weren’t any pumpkins for sale, at least not any I saw, which was disappointing to say the least. I feel like taking a pumpkin home is an essential part of any fall celebration, and I know that I, for one, would have loved the chance to take home one of the hundreds of pumpkins for carving, decoration or even to make a pumpkin pie if I were slightly more culinarily inclined.

The event itself was geared heavily toward younger families and children, with attractions like the Jumpkin’ Pumpkin, which was essentially a giant orange pumpkin-shaped trampoline. I felt a little left out as toddlers ran around me, throwing themselves into the corn pit (which, to be fair, was adorable), and I wish there were more attractions available for all ages. The only any-age attraction I really saw was kayaking on the lake, which definitely added to the whole experience and highlighted one of the unique features of Discovery Green. In general, the available activities effectively targeted families, but left little else for me to do.

Cindy Tint

Many other visitors try out another popular activity, the Tree Net Climber. The activity was a small obstacle course and was bordered with more fall-esque hay bales, adding to the autumn vibe.

But my main issue? The price.

Entrance to the festival costs $18 on weekdays and $26 on the weekends, which was far too much for the experience itself. I’m sure it would have been worth it if there was more to do, but in my opinion, the photos I got weren’t enough for the $26 I paid. It was also really crowded, even though I went right when it opened (10 a.m.) on a Sunday.

To be fair, I’m definitely not the targeted audience and the kids did look like they were having fun. With friends, this event would be a fun way to spend a weekend afternoon. Bring your cameras and get ready to enjoy an autumn atmosphere that’s sure to get you into the mood to celebrate, in my opinion, the best season.