Seasonal Fun at Morris Arboretum & Gardens!
For more information, contact Mellany Armstrong, 610.329.4022
Seasonal Fun at Morris Arboretum & Gardens!
Philadelphia, PA— Join us as we celebrate the seasons with events and classes that are fun 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 (Save $2 off general admission by buying tickets online!):
Members: Free
Adults: $22
Seniors: $20
Youth: $12
Child: free
Images are available for your use at this link: https://upenn.box.com/s/nvbf3qo5j5gko3vinuu440b0x8mgx4ft
APRIL EVENTS
Sake and Sakura: Sip and Stroll
Thursday, April 2, 2026 | 5:00 pm
Members $35 Non-Members $40
Celebrate Japanese traditions with a self-guided relaxing stroll after business hours to see cherry blossoms. Walk to a table set up underneath a beautiful blossoming cherry tree where you can sample different types of sake. Get more information at morrisarboretum.org or by calling 215.247.5777 ext. 156.
Shrubs for All Seasons
Saturday, April 11, 2026 | 11:00 am
Weekdays | 10:30 am
Meet at the Welcome Center
Free with general admission, weather permitting
This tour focuses on evergreen and deciduous shrubs for the home gardener. Shrubs provide showy foliage, vibrant blooms to attract pollinators, and structures to be used as natural screens. Come and discover new and old-time favorite shrubs. Get more information at morrisarb.org/tours or call 215.247.5777 ext. 157.
Storytime
Wednesday, April 15, 2026 | 10:30 am
Meet at the Outdoor Classroom (rain location: Welcome Center side tent)
Free with general admission
This month, we’re reading We Planted a Tree by Diane Muldrow, a story about how planting trees makes the world a better place. Explore how trees make the world go round and join us for a tree-inspired craft. Toddlers, pre-schoolers, and kindergarteners (and their siblings!) are welcome. Get more information at 215.247.5777 ext. 193.
Stroll into the Sunset
Thursday, April 16, 2026 | 6:00pm
Members $30 Non-Members $35
Meet at the Welcome Center.
Special after-hours walk through the garden! Enjoy the colors of the sunset and watch how nightfall changes the landscape and listen to the relaxing sounds of nature in the evening. The tour will be led by horticulturist Bob Gutowski. Get more information at 215.247.5777 ext. 193.
People, Plants & Penn Discussion Series Presents The Roots of American Botany: Vignettes from Philadelphia’s Scientific Past, a Virtual Event
Tuesday, April 23, 2026 | 10:30 – 11:45 am
Join us for a lively virtual panel discussion exploring Philadelphia’s rich botanical legacy through compelling stories of the past and examples of cutting-edge research tools Morris Arboretum & Gardens scientists as well as other members of the Penn research community are using to solve enduring botanical mysteries. Highlights include new research initiatives at Morris, an exploration of the genetics of Penn’s historic Penn Treaty Elm, and collaborative work in plant genetics with the Penn Museum. The event is free, but please register here.
Magnolias and More
Saturday, April 25, 2026 | 11:00 am
Meet at the Kiosk
Free with general admission
Explore a unique view of the Morris while walking up the gentle Magnolia Slope. Magnolias, dogwoods, and conifers are spread all across the entrance, greeting visitors. This rarely walked area captures the spring beauty of flowering trees contrasted with the majestic conifers. This tour is off-path, and visitors are advised to wear walking or hiking shoes. Get more information at morrisarb.org/tours or call 215.247.5777 ext. 157.
Yoga in the Treetops
Thursday, April 30, 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.
MAY EVENTS
Garden Railway Seasonal Opening
Opens Friday, May 22, 2026, and runs through September 30, 2026
Free with general admission
The Morris Arboretum & Gardens’ popular Garden Railway returns just in time for Memorial Day weekend! As one of the largest outdoor miniature train displays in the United States with more than 15 different rail lines running along a third of a mile of track, the Garden Railway will delight and amaze visitors of all ages. Learn more at morrisarboretum.org.
Botanical Mixology
Sunday, May 3, 2026 | 6:00 pm
Members: $60 Non-Members: $65
Learn how to add your fresh garden ingredients to seasonal cocktails. This class will focus on flavor combinations, techniques, and use ingredients accessible to any home bartender. Class is for ages 21-plus. BYO cheese and crackers if you wish to have a snack with your sips! Get more information at 215.247.5777 ext. 426.
Mid Atlantic Plant Research Conference
Friday, May 8, 2026 | 9:00 am – 4:30 pm
In-Person fee $155; Students $80
Virtual fee $125; Students $80
Conference speakers will discuss new research in plant science that can help us understand the challenges at hand in our wetland and coastal regions. Get more information at 215.247.5777 ext. 156.
Tea Under the Tree
Thursday, May 8, 2026 | 11:30 am
Meet at the Katsura Tree
Free with general admission
Come learn about the botany of tea and create your own blend under our lovely katsura tree. Get more information at 215.247.5777 ext. 132
Spring Blossoms Tour
Saturday, May 9, 2026 | 11:00 am
Meet at Widener Welcome Center
Included with admission.
Celebrate the joy of spring as the garden and trees bloom. The vibrant flowers change on a weekly basis as the season unfolds, bringing bursts of color and fragrance. Get more information at morrisarb.org/tours or call 215.247.5777 ext. 157.
Storytime
Wednesday, May 20, 2026 | 10:30 am
Meet at the Outdoor Classroom (rain location: Welcome Center side tent)
Free with general admission
This month, we’re reading Give Bees a Chance by Bethany Barton. Learn not only why we shouldn’t fear bees, but why they are really our friends with this interactive story and a bee craft to take home. Toddlers, pre-schoolers, and kindergarteners (and their siblings!) are welcome. Get more information at 215.247.5777 ext. 193.
Garden Railway: Revolutionary Philly and Plants from the Colonial Era Kickoff Weekend
Friday, May 22, 2026 | 11:00 am
Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24, 2026 | 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Meet at the Sensory Cottage
Free with general admission
Join us as we kick off our Garden Railway: Revolutionary Philly and Plants from the Colonial Era exhibitions at the Sensory Cottage! Learn about plants native to Pennsylvania and how they were used in the 1700s. Don’t forget to bring your senses: We’ll have special sensory themed activities as well! All ages welcome! Get more information at 215.247.5777 ext. 128.
Garden Railway: Revolutionary Philly
Friday, May 22 to Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Free with general admission
Visitors of all ages can take a miniature tour of eighteenth-century Philadelphia along more than a third of a mile of track, featuring seven loops and tunnels, fifteen rail lines, two cable cars, and nine bridges, including a trestle bridge that guests can walk beneath. Bustling model trains move through scenes inspired by colonial Philadelphia, highlighting landmarks and historic moments such as the Battle of Germantown. Get more information at morrisarboretum.org or call 215.247.5777.
More Hidden Gems Tour
Saturday, May 23, 2026 | 11:00 am
Meet at Welcome Center
Free with general admission
This walking tour highlights garden features not often discovered on an average visit. Go off the beaten path to visit places you’ve never been and see Garden gems you haven’t seen before. The tour is a combination of structures, sculptures, spaces, trees, and vistas. Please wear good walking shoes. Get more information at morrisarb.org/tours or call 215.247.5777 ext. 157.
Bloomin’ Bubbles Kickoff!
May 26, 2026 | 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Meet in the Whimsical Woods
Free with general admission, weather permitting
It’s Bloomin’ Bubbles season! Join us as we reopen our Bubble Tuesdays with games, music and giveaways! Get more information at 215.247.5777 ext. 128.
Bloomin’ Bubbles!
Tuesdays, May 26 to August 25, 2026 | 11:00 am
Meet in the Whimsical Woods
Free with general admission
Join us every Tuesday for Bloomin’ Bubbles! In this event just for kids we will transform the Whimsical Woods into a magical bubble party. Dancing, crafts, and activities! Get more information at 215.247.5777 ext. 193.
Yoga in the Treetops
Thursday, May 28, 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.
Mellany Armstrong (She/Her)
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)
