I saw in several places that the Longwood Gardens Chrysanthemum Festival starts on October 24. Upon checking, that was last year's schedule.

This year's Chrysanthemum Festival actually began on Friday, October 16, and will continue until November 15, making it a full month.

October 24, Saturday, is not entirely insignificant either. There is a program called Meet Us at the Mums from 1 PM to 3 PM that day.

Staff from the Longwood Science Team will be stationed throughout the conservatory to answer questions about chrysanthemums. This is included with the admission ticket, but pre-registration is required.

So to summarize, the festival opens on October 16, and October 24 is just one of the events during that time.

The location is Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square. It's a great day trip from Philadelphia, making it a popular spot every fall.

This year's festival will feature over 5,000 chrysanthemums, filling both the East Conservatory and the Main Conservatory.

What's more impressive than the numbers is the design. There will be pieces that spiral the chrysanthemums or create cloud-like cascades.

Some pieces are said to reach lengths of up to 10 feet. That's about 3 meters, which is more than double a person's height.

Some of these forms take over a year to prepare. Honestly, I was a bit surprised by this. It means they grow them for a year just for a month-long display.

The colors are primarily yellow, orange, lavender, and maroon. The combination is perfect for capturing the autumn tones in photos.

This year, there's a new double arch made of chrysanthemums. Since it consists of two connected arches, it will likely be the most popular photo spot.

The Exhibition Hall features an exhibit inspired by suiseki, which is a Japanese tradition of appreciating stones that resemble mountains or landscapes.

Behind it, there's a curtain made of live chrysanthemums hanging as a backdrop. This exhibit would surely delight seniors in Korea who enjoy suiseki.

In the Bonsai Workshop, you can also see chrysanthemums grown as bonsai. This was the first time I heard of growing chrysanthemums as bonsai.

Now, let's talk about the ticket prices. For adults (ages 16-64), the admission fee is $35 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays until October 25, and $38 on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

From October 26 to November 15, the price will be uniform at $35 from Wednesday to Monday. The gardens are closed on Tuesdays.

Seniors aged 65 and over can enter for $31 on weekdays (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday) until October 25. Children aged 5-15 pay $20 on weekdays and $22 on weekends, while children under 4 enter for free.

It's important to note that these are timed tickets. You need to purchase them in advance for a specific entry time, and it's not as simple as just walking in.

Operating hours also vary by date. Until November 1, the gardens are open from 10 AM to 6 PM on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and until 9 PM on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

From November 2, the hours will be reduced to 10 AM to 5 PM. As the days get shorter, if you go late, you'll have less time to see everything.

If you visit on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, be sure to catch the fountain show as well. The last Illuminated Fountain Performance of the year will take place at 8:15 PM on Fridays and Saturdays until October 31.

On October 23, there will be a special performance called Symphony of Horror. It features scenes from the silent film Nosferatu with live music performed by the main organist.

The Halloween Magic performance will be held on October 24, 25, and 31. If you're bringing kids, it might be a good idea to plan around these dates.

If you want to see the chrysanthemums during the day and the fountain in the evening, there's a Gardens By Day and Night ticket available. It's only sold on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays until October 25, and for an additional $6 per ticket, you can enter without time restrictions and re-enter once.

Looking at the data, my conclusion is simple. The best value is on weekdays after October 26, while the best atmosphere is on weekends before October 25.

Even though the price is the same at $35, it's likely to be less crowded in November, and the chrysanthemums will still be on display until the end of the festival. However, you will have to forgo the fountain show and evening hours.

If it were me, I would aim for the afternoon of the last Friday in October. Paying $3 more for weekend rates to see both the chrysanthemums and the fountain at once seems to be the most efficient use of time.

Lastly, just a reminder. Dates and prices can change at any time, so I recommend checking the official website once more before you go.

If you were waiting until the 24th based on incorrect information, it's already open, so you can go this weekend!