Harvest Illuminated is an annual event that takes place at the Western Colorado Botanical Gardens. The event is a fundraiser for STRiVE. STRiVE has been supporting our community for over 50 years providing services for individuals with developmental disabilities with a people supporting people approach. They “strive” to fill the gaps in service needs by providing therapy services, respite, vocational services, and more to support the needs of children and families. As the needs in our community have grown and changed, so has their diversity of services.
This year the Harvest Illuminated event will take place in the evenings of October 26th, 27th and 28th. Tickets can be purchased online through the STRiVE website or the Western Colorado Botanical Gardens website, or at the gate.
Last year the event included more than 1,000 pumpkins! Harvest Illuminate includes amazing works of pumpkin art by artists from around the world, but also includes Western Slope’s own famed pumpkin artist, Willy Tuz. If Willy’s name isn’t familiar to you, it should be. He has been featured on Food Network’s “Outrageous Pumpkins” and “Halloween Wars”. Willy is the chef and founder of Colorado Fruit Designs. He has a storefront location within the Mesa Mall, just outside of the food court.
Willy combines a passion for art with food. He makes amazing fruit carvings, edible creations, and even life size ice sculptures! His fruit carvings are so amazing, you have to see them to believe them. He supplies fruit carvings, platters, goodies and bouquets for all types of events: corporate events, weddings, anniversaries, graduations, birthdays or just because.
Harvest Illuminated isn’t just a great chance to meet with Willy, but to see loads of talent and enjoy the beautiful fall air. There will be live carving demos every night from professionals all around the world, tons of food trucks and other great activities for the whole family. The theme will be Witchcraft and Wizardry and themed attire is highly encouraged. We are extremely excited to see what everyone will carve and the great costumes. We’ll see you there on a most spooky weekend at the Botanical Gardens!