Seasonal Fun at Morris Arboretum & Gardens
Seasonal Fun at Morris Arboretum & Gardens!
Philadelphia, PA— Join us as we celebrate the month of May 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 (Last entry 4 pm)
General admission:
Members: Free
Adults: $22
Seniors: $20
Youth: $12
Child: free
Save $2 off general admission by buying tickets online!
Images are available for your use at this link: https://upenn.box.com/s/jf2uvov1z586wz09l8g37nlka8zprnez
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 model 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.
Spring Blossoms Tour
Saturday, May 9, 2026 | 11:00 am
Meet at the Welcome Center
Free with general 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, preschoolers, 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 are 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 215.247.5777.
More Hidden Gems Tour
Saturday, May 23, 2026 | 11:00 am
Meet at the 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
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)
