Fall at the Gardens 2024 Harvest Illuminated at the Western Colorado Botanical Gardens in Grand Junction Oct. 17th – Oct. 19.

Date/Time: OCT 17 AT 5 PM MDT – OCT 19 AT 9 PM MDT.

Fall at the Gardens: Harvest Illuminated Western Colorado Botanical Gardens

Proceeds from the event will benefit STRiVE’s person-centered programs, serving children and adults with disabilities. These vital community resources help to ensure our most vulnerable population receives the developmental support they so desperately need. Our mission to support individuals and families has been a mainstay in Mesa County for over 50 years.

David Smith (Columbus, OH) has been a professional ice sculptor since completing culinary school in 2012 and is the owner of Frost Lion Ice Plus, an extreme sculpture company.   Over the course of his noteworthy career, David has earned over 80 National Ice Carving Association medals (5 Gold) and has had multiple Top 5 finishes in the World Ice Art Championships (3 Gold).  He also serves on the Board of Directors for Ice Alaska.

A true master of his craft, David’s undeniable talents and carving skills manifest in many artistic mediums, including (but not limited to) sand, fruit, and pumpkins.  He has been a competitor on Food Network’s “Halloween Wars”, “Cake Wars: Christmas Challenge”, “Outrageous Pumpkins” and winning “Halloween Wars: Hayride of Horror.”  In addition, he was featured last Fall on ABC’s LIVE with Kelly and Ryan.

Willy Tuz (Grand Junction, Colorado) Is the Chef and Founder of Colorado Fruit Designs in Grand Junction. Food Network Finalist on Halloween Wars season 12 in 2022 and Outrageous Pumpkins season 1 in 2020. Tuz has been a professional culinary carver for more than 18 years and specializes in pumpkin carvings, sculpting fruit, vegetables and other foods into elaborate displays and outrageous carving centerpieces!

Sculpture Sponsors

• PH Builders
• Home Loan Insurance
• Morfitt Applications
• Studt’s
• Atlasta Solar
• ANB Bank

Photo-op Sponsors

• Bank of Colorado
• Magic 93
• Groundworks
• Alpine Bank
• Bechtel & Santo
• Humpty Dumpster
• Networks Unlimited
• MBC Grand
• Whitewater Building Supplies
• Mutual of America

Candyland Sponsors

• IMA
• Hoskin, Farina & Kampf
• ARC Mesa County