If you are looking for an original and evocative way to celebrate Halloween, the University of Pavia has an unmissable event in store for you. On Saturday, October 31, 2026, the Botanical Garden will host the first edition of Botanic Suspiria - The Night of the Living Garden, an event designed for both children and adults to discover the hidden, mysterious, and fascinating facets of nature in autumn.
🪄 An afternoon of magic and discovery
The festivities begin at 3:00 PM with a packed program of activities. For younger visitors (aged 6 to 12), the company ADMaiora presents the game ''Magic in the Garden,'' in which little wizards and witches must find the right ingredients to brew the ''Shiver Potion'' and save the Garden from chaos.
Meanwhile, adults can explore the Garden's treasures through unique initiatives: from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM, the ZuccaLO project-part of the Germplasm Bank-will host a station featuring guided tours dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Lombardy's pumpkin varieties.
Starting at 4:30 PM, a series of thematic tours led by experts and researchers will get underway. Topics range from seasonal fruits, presented by Francesco Bracco and Nicola Ardenghi, to the ''Rotting Garden'' with Margherita Tognela and Francesco Ferrari, and even a look at the fascinating yet treacherous ''Deadly Plants... or Almost!''-a talk by professor Emanuela Martino.
📚 Theater, books, and an enchanted atmosphere
As evening approaches, the atmosphere becomes even more magical. From 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM, the arboretum will serve as the setting for a tour featuring theatrical entertainment titled ''Bargniff. Escape from the Garden,'' presented by the Tra il Dito e la Luna theatre company. Following this, in the ''Aula Serre di Scopoli,'' there will be a presentation of the book *Science? A Girl's Game... in Pavia!* by Ilaria Canobbio, which will engage the audience in a themed quiz designed for budding scientists (with a Halloween twist). And for the truly brave? From 10:30 PM to 11:30 PM-for the first time since the reopening following its PNRR-funded restoration-the Botanical Garden will reveal itself in the dark during ''The Night of the Living Garden,'' an exclusive, witching-hour guided tour led by the Director and the head gardener.
Throughout the day (from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM), there will also be a grand exhibition featuring pumpkins of every species and variety, alongside an exhibition on biodiversity through the lens of wood, hosted at the Educational and Outreach Center of the Bosco Siro Negri Nature Reserve.
A preview you won't want to miss:
The festive atmosphere begins as early as Wednesday, October 28, at the Botanical Garden Library with the ''Waiting for Halloween'' event. The afternoon will feature a pumpkin-themed watercolor workshop led by Daniela Passuello, as well as a guided tour of a special exhibition of historical books.
All scheduled activities are completely free of charge.
Themed attire-costumed or otherwise-is highly encouraged!
🪄 An afternoon of magic and discovery
The festivities begin at 3:00 PM with a packed program of activities. For younger visitors (aged 6 to 12), the company ADMaiora presents the game ''Magic in the Garden,'' in which little wizards and witches must find the right ingredients to brew the ''Shiver Potion'' and save the Garden from chaos.
Meanwhile, adults can explore the Garden's treasures through unique initiatives: from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM, the ZuccaLO project-part of the Germplasm Bank-will host a station featuring guided tours dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Lombardy's pumpkin varieties.
Starting at 4:30 PM, a series of thematic tours led by experts and researchers will get underway. Topics range from seasonal fruits, presented by Francesco Bracco and Nicola Ardenghi, to the ''Rotting Garden'' with Margherita Tognela and Francesco Ferrari, and even a look at the fascinating yet treacherous ''Deadly Plants... or Almost!''-a talk by professor Emanuela Martino.
📚 Theater, books, and an enchanted atmosphere
As evening approaches, the atmosphere becomes even more magical. From 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM, the arboretum will serve as the setting for a tour featuring theatrical entertainment titled ''Bargniff. Escape from the Garden,'' presented by the Tra il Dito e la Luna theatre company. Following this, in the ''Aula Serre di Scopoli,'' there will be a presentation of the book *Science? A Girl's Game... in Pavia!* by Ilaria Canobbio, which will engage the audience in a themed quiz designed for budding scientists (with a Halloween twist). And for the truly brave? From 10:30 PM to 11:30 PM-for the first time since the reopening following its PNRR-funded restoration-the Botanical Garden will reveal itself in the dark during ''The Night of the Living Garden,'' an exclusive, witching-hour guided tour led by the Director and the head gardener.
Throughout the day (from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM), there will also be a grand exhibition featuring pumpkins of every species and variety, alongside an exhibition on biodiversity through the lens of wood, hosted at the Educational and Outreach Center of the Bosco Siro Negri Nature Reserve.
A preview you won't want to miss:
The festive atmosphere begins as early as Wednesday, October 28, at the Botanical Garden Library with the ''Waiting for Halloween'' event. The afternoon will feature a pumpkin-themed watercolor workshop led by Daniela Passuello, as well as a guided tour of a special exhibition of historical books.
All scheduled activities are completely free of charge.
Themed attire-costumed or otherwise-is highly encouraged!