About
Summer at the Arboretum features 65,000 new plantings in June with 300 tropical elephant ears and 500 cannas creating our signature summer look. All of this creates a compelling backdrop for our Great Contributors exhibit from artist Gary Lee Price, which continues through August 6.
Our summer kicks off with a visit from renowned artists and storytellers, the Pleasant Hill Quilters, on June 3. Their dazzling and entertaining historical presentation of the Underground Railroad and the secret quilt codes is sure to inspire.
Summer programming features a wide range of guests that highlight the historical contributions of the figures represented in artist Gary Lee Price’s Great Contributors, including the Quilters Guild of Dallas, Frontiers of Flight Museum, Window to the Wild and more! Plus, Family Fun Fridays return all June and July with a petting zoo and story time for the kids – and frozen treats for purchase – all at the Pecan Grove.
Live piano performances continue all summer long at Jeanne’s Pavilion, each Saturday and Sunday from 12-2pm, and Dallas’ best party bands hit the Martin Rutchik Concert Stage each holiday weekend from 2-4pm!

Great Contributors Collection
Event Overview

Special Opportunities and Festival Programming
Quilters Guild of Dallas
Exhibit
June 1-August 6 | 10am-4pm
DeGoyler House
Meet the Artists
July 1 | 10:30am
DeGolyer House
From history, we know that every quilt, like anything else that’s handmade, has a story. Come and enjoy the quilting exhibits by Quilters Guild of Dallas. You’ll experience ways in which our Great Contributors stories intersect with quilts.
Pleasant Hill Quilters
June 3 | 11am
Rosine Hall
The Pleasant Hill Quilters delight with an oral American history like you’ve never seen or heard. The quilters weave together the Black traditions of quilting and spiritual hymns associated with slaves fleeing to freedom on the Underground Railroad. Displaying completed quilts, the women explain how runaway slaves and their supporters used quilt patterns to communicate messages along the network of routes, sympathizers and safe havens that helped fugitives escape to freedom in the days before abolition.
Gary Lee Price Hands-on Demo & Book Signing
June 9 | 10:30am & 1pm
A Tasteful Place
Don’t miss your last chance to see the renowned sculptor in the garden this year! Gary Lee Price returns as he shares his spectacular NEW exhibition of works in bronze. Plus, he’ll engage the family with hands-on sculpting with clay. Immediately following each session, Gary will be at the gift store to sign copies of his memoir.
Pride in Bloom
June 10-11 | 10am-4pm
Join us this June for our 2nd annual Pride in Bloom. Our mission is to highlight the unique and exceptional contribution of local LGBTQ+ artisans, entertainers and chefs in a weekend event for all community members to enjoy, in an effort to build lasting partnerships in our garden. Saturday’s events will kick off with a keynote from Robert Emory, President of The Dallas Way. Our event will include live musical performances in the Pecan Grove, multiple selfie installations in the garden, an interactive red carpet from VisitDallas, picnics galore and, of course, our signature vendor market.
Juneteenth and Father’s Day Family Fun Weekend
June 17-19
Enjoy a vintage car show hosted by the Classic Chassis Car Club from 9am-5pm! Don’t miss Window to the Wild showing off birds of prey from 10:30am-12pm on Saturday, and Country Critters Petting Zoo from 10am-2pm in Pecan Grove. Gil’s Elegant Catering offers $4 brownie sundaes, $2 hot dogs and root beer floats at the Terrace Café all weekend.
Classic Chassis Car Club Car Show
June 17-19
9am-5pm
Behind the Pecan Grove
Classic Chassis Car Club returns for our annual Father’s Day and Juneteenth Holiday Car Show. Bring out the whole family to experience classic cars of yesteryear and meet their passionate owners!
Window to the Wild
Back by popular demand, Window to the Wild returns with their special up-close glove encounters! Learn about flight mechanics and how birds navigate the airways. Each appearance brings a new theme to the show, so mark your calendar! *Please check website in case of rescheduling due to inclement weather
Father’s Day Glove Encounter
June 18 10:30am-12pm
Pecan Grove
Family Fun Weekend Glove Encounter
July 2 10:30am-12pm
Jonsson Color Garden
Family Fun Weekend Flight Program
September 4 10:30-11:30am
Concert Stage
Shakespeare of Dallas
June 30 11am-12pm
Concert Stage
Back by popular demand Shakespeare Unlocked presents two professional actors performing scenes from Shakespeare’s plays, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” and “Much Ado About Nothing.”
Independence Day Family Fun Weekend
July 1-4
Meet the birds you may see in your backyard with Window to the Wild on Sunday from 10:30am-12pm Jonsson Color Garden! Also, family favorite Country Critters in the Pecan Grove. Gil’s Elegant Catering offers $4 brownie sundaes, $2 hot dogs and root beer floats at the Terrace Café all weekend.
Frontiers of Flight Museum Presentation Amelia Earhart History and Life Game Show
July 3 | 11am-12pm
Children’s Adventure Garden Café
Come enjoy a fun game show presentation on the history, life and accomplishments of Amelia Earhart. Afterwards, take a self-guided tour of her bronze statue that overlooks White Rock Lake.
Memory Garden Summer Series
Summer Series 1: July 7, 14, 21 and 28
Summer Series 2: August 11, 18, 25 and September 1
Sewell Boardroom
Friday | 9AM
Series of four classes for those in the early to middle stages of Dementia or Alzheimer’s. Pre-registration is required. $20 cost includes garden admission for participant and care partner, as well as parking for all four days – a value of over $200.
Sponsored by the AWARE Foundation & the Darrell K Royal Research Foundation
Christmas in July
Sunday, July 24 10am-2pm
Santa is taking a vacation away from the North Pole to come to the Dallas Arboretum! Get your Christmas in July photo with Santa from 10am-2pm at the Wishing Well, with all donations collected benefitting the Dallas Arboretum Volunteer Advisory Board. Join us in the Pecan Grove for Story Time with Mrs. Claus at 11am and escape away to a wintery destination with the cool flavors of Big D Kona Ice, available from 11am-3pm.
Dallas Zoo Animal Ambassador Visit
August 6
Time 10:45-11:30am
Martin Rutchik Concert Stage & Lawn
Make sure to pack a picnic and join favorites the Dallas Zoo for a 45-minute presentation as they bring out 5-7 ambassador animals, including birds, reptiles and mammals.
Labor Day Family Fun Weekend
September 2-4
Window to the Wild will be on the Martin Rutchik Concert Stage and Lawn from 10-11am on Monday showing off birds and talking about their jobs in nature! Also, family favorite Country Critters! Gil’s Elegant Catering offers $4 brownie sundaes, $2 hot dogs and root beer floats at the Terrace Café all weekend.

Free & Repeating Programs
Member Mornings
Daily through November 4
7-9am
Take advantage of your membership with an early morning walk. Refresh and enjoy first access to the garden as we prepare for the day. No photography allowed.
The Great Contributors Activity Guide
Information Booth
Every Tuesday | 10am-3pm
Pick up our Great Contributors activity guide each week for an in-depth look at the lives of each historic figure represented in Gary Lee Price’s exhibition. Show your completed guide to the Information Booth to earn a free kid’s Cool Thursdays Concert ticket!
Wednesday Bubble Picnic
Pecan Grove
Every Wednesday | 10:30am-12pm
Fan favorite returns: Wednesday Bubble Picnic! Set up your own picnic, cool off in the shade and let the little ones pop bubbles to their heart’s content while they listen to fun kid-friendly tunes!
Historical Tours
Monday-Saturday | 10am-4pm
Sunday | 12-4pm
DeGolyer House
Visit the DeGolyer House for a tour of the beautiful, historic home while listening to knowledgeable docents speak about the history of the home and family.
Daily Harvest with the Horticulture Team
Every Thursday | 11am
A Tasteful Place
See how to harvest the season’s ripest produce, learn tricks of the trade and ask our horticulture team your questions each Thursday in our seasonal potager gardens. Look for the Daily Harvest sign for the program meeting place for this family-friendly chat!
CC Young Senior Living Thursdays
Every Thursday (Excluding July & August) | 9am-5pm
Seniors 65 and older get in for $1 off general garden admission and always receive a 20% discount in the Hoffman Family Gift Store.
Family Fun Fridays
Every Friday | 10am-2pm
June 2 – July 28
Pecan Grove
Come out to the garden and enjoy activities for the whole family and purchase a frozen treat from one of our favorite local dessert vendors! Country Critters Petting Zoo returns with your favorite goats, sheep, bunnies and a pony (10am-2pm). Story time (10am & 10:30am) featuring kid-friendly tales of the figures represented in our Great Contributors exhibition; and crowd favorite Kindermusik (12:15pm) returns to activate children’s minds through song.
Presented by Kimberly-Clark

Free Daily Programs in A Tasteful Place
Daily Tastings
A Tasteful Place
10am-4pm
Enjoy a sample of seasonal recipes featuring a hero fruit or veggie growing in our garden or currently in stores. Then, download the recipe from our website and make them at home!
Dallas College Cooks
Every Monday at A Tasteful Place
11am
Dallas College faculty member, Chef Segundo, creates healthy and delicious seasonal dishes your family will love to make and eat at home!
Dates & details
Tasteful Tuesdays Floral Demos
Every Tuesday at A Tasteful Place
11am
Local floral experts provide how-to demos, hands-on tips and tricks and design inspiration with seasonal color.
Dates & details
Daily Tastings Demo with Chef Isabel
Every Tuesday at A Tasteful Place
1pm
Resident Chef Isabel Snetsinger shows you how she creates the seasonal recipes you enjoy each week at the Ruthie Pack Tasting Plaza.
Chef-Tastic Cooking Demos
Most Wednesdays in A Tasteful Place
11am
Visit each week for an essential skill to increase your kitchen prowess – you’ll have tips and tricks to share with friends and family, new go to recipes and more!
Dates & details
Learn to Grow Fridays
Every Friday at A Tasteful Place
11am
Presented by the Dallas County Master Gardeners, the Dallas Arboretum Horticultural Staff and local experts. Enjoy special tips and presentations on summer plants and gardening topics.
Dates & details

Paid Classes in A Tasteful Place
Mozzarella Company
June 4 | 1pm
Adult member $79
Adult guest $89
This fun, educational and interactive class is led by a Cheese Expert from the Mozzarella Company and Wine Expert John Bratcher of Two Wine Guys. Learn to pair cheese and wine in a seated class with an organized array of artisanal cheeses and wines served to enhance the palate.
(6 to 8 cheeses and 5 to 6 wines)
Minimum age: 21 years
Chocolate & Wine Pairing- Cocovina
June 16 | 2pm
Adult member $79
Adult guest $89
Experience an elegant Chocolate & Wine presentation with Cocovina! Artisan Chocolates and Fine Wines are paired and tasted in an engaging fashion. Learn the history of chocolate and wine for a decadent and entertaining afternoon. And get to know Sanne Bogart, Chocolatier and Wine Connoisseur. Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sanne brings exciting and surprising flavors to her chocolate! Event includes tastings of 1 Bubbly wine and 3 Bold Reds paired with the perfect flavors of chocolate such as an all-natural dark chocolate medallions with fruit, nuts, herbs and spices to entertain every palate!
Children’s Cooking Class- Chocolate Class with Yelibelly
July 9 | 1pm
Adult $45
Children $35
Molecular Gastronomy is the magical mix of culinary arts and food science together! During this class we will walk you through some fun techniques to make delicious and unique treats with molecular gastronomy. Guests participating in our molecular gastronomy class will see and taste a variety of different chocolate-based science experiments. We will turn liquid chocolate into powder, make holographic chocolate, experiment with liquid nitrogen ice cream, make dipping dots and more. Child recommended age: 8-12.
Adult Cooking Class- Loro
July 27 | 1pm
Adult member $89
Adult guest $99
Join the Chefs of Loro-Asian Smoke House and Bar to learn how to make the perfect yellow curry marinade for grilled chicken. Additionally, we will be teaching how to make our famous arugula and melon salad as the perfect side for summer.
Pepper Palooza with The Mozzarella Company
August 20 | 1pm
Adult member $79
Adult guest $89
This fun, educational and interactive class is led by a Cheese Expert from the Mozzarella Company and Wine Expert John Bratcher of Two Wine Guys. Featuring the spicy flavors of habanero cheese, you will learn to pair cheese with bold red wine.
(6 to 8 cheeses and 5 to 6 wines)
Minimum age: 21 years

Music & Entertainment
Jeanne’s Pavilion
Weekends | 12–2pm
Sit down and delight in a picnic while you enjoy musical entertainment every Saturday and Sunday! We will have local solo acts including pianist and guitarists playing today’s hits and old favorites.
Martin Rutchik Concert Stage & Lawn
Select Weekends | 2–4pm
Join us on select weekends during Summer at the Arboretum for our favorite local acts. Load up the family, grab a picnic lunch and relax with great views of White Rock Lake.
Cool Thursdays Concerts Series
Make your 2023 one to remember at the coolest spot in Dallas as we celebrate our 26th season with returning favorites and NEW acts! Don’t miss the most spectacular view of the sunset over White Rock Lake while enjoying bands from all over the country.
Sponsors





