8525 Garland Road, Dallas, Texas 75218

Summer at the Arboretum

Summer at the Arboretum

When

June 3–August 6

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.  

Learn More

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 

Register

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!  

Register

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.

Register

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.  

Register

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 

Register

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.  

Dates and times

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.  

Dates and times

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. 

Lineup and tickets

Sponsors

Experience the beauty of the Dallas Arboretum in full summer bloom.

Something for Every Season