Nature is Fun at Morris Arboretum & Gardens!
Philadelphia, PA—Join us as we celebrate the season at Morris Arboretum & Gardens! With fun events and interesting classes, we have something for everyone! Tickets can be purchased online or on-site. Buy your general admission tickets online for $2 off! Learn more at morrisarboretum.org. All events are free with general admission unless otherwise noted.
Morris Arboretum & Gardens hours
Monday – Friday: 10 am – 5 pm (Last entry 4 pm)
Saturday – Sunday: 9 am – 5 pm
General admission:
Members: Free
Adults: $22
Seniors: $20
Youth: $12
Child: free
Buy your tickets online to save $2!
Images are available for your use at this link: https://upenn.box.com/s/ut5fdbcx6j2rbqi5cordb2v8f1lb5mvx
AUGUST 2026 EVENTS
Morris Discount Weekend
Saturday, August 1 and Sunday, August 2, 2026 | 10 am – 1 pm
Meet at the Whimsical Woods
Free with general admission
Get $10 off general admission tickets all weekend! Meet us in our family-friendly Whimsical Woods for activity stations about our native trees, including one about North America’s largest native fruit, the pawpaw. All ages are welcome! Discount does not apply to any other discounts and tickets must be purchased on-site. Get more information at 215.247.5777 ext. 128.
Pursuit of Happiness: Finding Joy in Nature
Through Monday, August 31, 2026
Free with general admission
The exhibition features playful and reflective experiences for all ages, including tree swings, activities at the Morris Cottage, Singing Trees activated by wind chimes, and colorful Adirondack chairs that invite lingering. Get more information at 215.247.5777.
Garden Railway: Revolutionary Philly
Through September 30, 2026
Free with general admission. Weather permitting.
Morris Arboretum & Gardens’ beloved Garden Railway rolls back into action with Garden Railway: Revolutionary Philly. Set within lush garden plantings, the immersive miniature landscape celebrates Philadelphia’s pivotal role in the nation’s founding. Take a miniature tour of eighteenth-century Philadelphia along more than a third of a mile of track. Bustling model trains pass handcrafted replicas of iconic landmarks such as Independence Hall, built entirely from natural materials including twigs, bark, acorns, and pinecones. Nine bridges, tunnels, cable cars, and scenes inspired by events like the Battle of Germantown bring the Revolution vividly to life. Get more information at morrisarboretum.org.
Plants in the Colonial Era
Through September 30, 2026
Free with general admission
Plants in the Colonial Era explores the living landscape of eighteenth-century Philadelphia. This self-guided exhibition highlights plants that would have been familiar to area residents during the colonial era. These plants supported daily life in countless ways, providing food, medicine, building materials, and sources of beauty and comfort. From plants found in home gardens to those in Penn’s woods, many of which were long stewarded by local Indigenous communities, the exhibition reveals how nature shaped civic life, independence, and resilience in early Philadelphia. Get more information at morrisarboretum.org.
Bloomin’ Bubbles!
Tuesdays through August 25, 2026 | 11:00 am
Meet in the Whimsical Woods
Free with general admission. Weather permitting.
Join us every Tuesday for Bloomin’ Bubbles! The Whimsical Woods transforms into a bubble landscape for children to use their imaginations and play! The second Tuesday of every month will have self-directed activity stations for all children to explore! Get more information at 215.247.5777 ext. 193.
SENSE-sational Friday: Sight
Friday, August 7, 2026 | 11:00 am
Meet at the Morris Cottage
Free with general admission
Do you have a favorite color? Maybe you’ll see that color at this SENSE-sational Friday as we explore native plants with bright colors! There will be brightly colored crafts to take home! Designed for ages 3-12, however, all ages are welcome! Get more information at 215.247.5777 ext. 128.
Water Features Tour
Saturday, August 8, 2026 | 11:00 am
Meet at the Welcome Center
Free with general admission
Water features, an integral part of the landscape, offer visual, auditory, and tactile appeal. Cascading waterfalls, natural streams, and the striking Morris Pond become essential to the beauty of the arboretum. Get more information at morrisarb.org/tours or call 215.247.5777 ext. 157.
Storytime
Wednesday, August 19, 2026 | 10:30 am
Meet at the Outdoor Classroom (rain location: Welcome Center side tent)
Free with general admission
This month we are reading Jayden’s Impossible Garden by Mélina Mangal, a story of finding nature in even the most unlikely places. Learn about appreciating nature in urban environments and create a garden-inspired craft!Toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarteners (and their siblings!) are welcome. Get more information at 215.247.5777 ext. 193.
Yoga in the Treetops
Thursday, August 27, 2026 | 5:15 pm
Members $35; Non-members $40
Class will take place on the Out on a Limb exhibit. Practice yoga 50 feet above ground surrounded by a canopy of trees. This class is a wonderful way to combine the mental benefits of yoga with the beauty of the natural environment. This unique practice is for participants of all skill levels. Get more information at 215.247.5777 ext. 426.
Garden Highlights Tour
Weekdays | 10:30 am
Saturdays & Sundays | 1:00 pm
Meet at the Welcome Center
Free with general admission, weather permitting
Our knowledgeable guides will design a tour around the interests of the attendees. Every tour is different, so come back as many times as you’d like. Get more information at morrisarb.org/tours or call 215.247.5777 ext. 157.
SEPTEMBER 2026 EVENTS
Garden Highlights Tour
Weekdays | 10:30 am
Saturdays & Sundays | 1:00 pm
Meet at the Welcome Center
Free with general admission, weather permitting
Our knowledgeable guides will design a tour around the interests of the attendees. Every tour is different, so come back as many times as you’d like. Get more information at morrisarb.org/tours or call 215.247.5777 ext. 157.
SENSE-sational Friday: Sensory Celebration
Friday, September 4, 2026 | 11:00 am
Meet at the Morris Cottage
Free with general admission
We will be celebrating sight, smell, and touch with bright colors, great smells, and interesting textures. Join us as we have a Celebratory Senses dance party and take-away crafts you can enjoy at home. Designed for ages 3-12, however, all ages are welcome! Get more information at 215.247.5777 ext. 128.
Small Trees for Small(er) Spaces
Saturday, September 12, 2026 | 11:00 am
Meet at the Welcome Center
Free with general admission
Investigate the smaller specimen trees at Morris that make a big impact. Ranging in height from 15 to 30 feet, these trees have many special features, such as spectacular bark, interesting forms, and great flower and leaf color. Some small trees are cultivated to be “dwarf” versions of larger, taller trees, and others are by their DNA considered small. Find one that will pop in your garden! Get more information at 215.247.5777 ext. 157.
Storytime
Wednesday, September 16, 2026 | 10:30 am
Meet at the Outdoor Classroom (rain location: Welcome Center side tent)
Free with general admission
We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt by Steve Metzger follows three friends as they travel through the forest, collecting leaves of all different shapes, sizes, and colors! Come along for a leaf hunt of our very own and create a craft to celebrate!Toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarteners (and their siblings!) are welcome. Get more information at 215.247.5777 ext. 193.
Hidden Gems Tour
Saturday, September 26, 2026 | 11:00 am
Meet at the Welcome Center
Free with general admission
A combination of structures, sculptures, walkways, trees and vistas are included in our Hidden Gems. Many are off the beaten path or hidden in plain view. This tour shows something unique about these more familiar gems—a different angle in viewing them or a special story. Get more information at 215.247.5777 ext. 157.
For more information, contact Mellany Armstrong at mellanya@upenn.edu or call 610.329.4022 (cell).
The Morris Arboretum & Gardens is one of more than 30 Philadelphia gardens in America’s Garden Capital. This 92-acre horticultural display garden features a spectacular collection of mature trees in a beautiful and colorful landscape. The Morris Arboretum & Gardens offers educational programs for many audiences ranging from youth to professional and is a leader in botanical and horticultural research.
100 E Northwestern Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118 / 215.247.5777 / info@morrisarboretum.org
Mellany Armstrong
Communications Coordinator
Morris Arboretum & Gardens of the University of Pennsylvania
100 E. Northwestern Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19118
215.247.5777 ext. 135 (office)
610.329.4022 (cell)
