Chrysanthemums are familiar as small autumn plants beside a front door. Longwood Gardens' Chrysanthemum Festival gives them a different scale and setting, using the historic conservatories to display trained forms and a wide range of flowers. Visitors can examine the trained structures alongside ordinary flower forms.
The Pennsylvania gardens scheduled the 2026 festival from October 16 through November 15. Its published program also included opportunities to hear from the science team about the horticulture behind the displays.
Trained forms in the conservatories
The arrangements show how training a plant’s branches changes the shape of the finished display. The conservatory setting allows forms on a scale different from a pot beside a front door.
Decide whether you want an evening too
Longwood's 2026 autumn announcement listed illuminated fountain performances on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through October 31. The garden display and an evening performance create different visit lengths, so look at the date-specific schedule before booking.
A weekday conservatory visit can make sense if flowers are the main reason for the trip. An evening program needs additional time for food, outdoor conditions and the journey home.
Plan the flowers and evening separately
- Chrysanthemum Festival: October 16 through November 15.
- Published illuminated-fountain season: Friday through Sunday evenings through October 31.
- Confirm the date-specific program and admission before combining them.
Check admission availability and the operating hours for the buildings you want to see.
