Flower show, plant sale, gardening experts, live music, kids crafts, food & more — the Zilker Garden Festival will be bustling with family-friendly fun on Saturday, April 2 and Sunday, April 3 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. This annual event, held in the Zilker Botanical Garden, has been a spring favorite in Austin for over 50 years.
What’s happening at the Zilker Garden Festival? There are so many activities included in this 2-day event. Click here to view the event schedule. Here are some of the highlights:
–> For Kids:
There’s always fun in the Kids’ Corner in the Rose Garden. They can build a birdhouse, make butterfly wings and masks, have their faces painted, and learn about plants. Also, the Garden Train is being sponsored and constructed by The Texas Garden Railroaders Club. It’s a whimsical addition to the garden.
–> Flower Show
Tour the great state of Texas through floral design. From West Texas’s Marfa Lights; Gulf Coast’s Beach Combers; Cypress Bayous of Caddo Lake and Charro Days in Brownsville, the Violet Crown Garden Club invites you to the Festival’s annual Flower Show:”Texas, Land of Contrast.” Bring family and friends to the auditorium for a beautiful learning experience about our great state.
–> Shop for Plants & More: Visit the vendor booths from Austin and Central Texas who will offer a variety of plants for sale – native and adapted annuals and perennials, cacti & succulents, veggies & herbs, orchids, and tropicals. Shop for garden-themed arts & crafts, ceramic pottery, custom jewelry, handmade artistic clothing, herbal products, and garden hats.
–> Special Activities: Visit the City of Austin Grow Green tables on the lawn by the Garden Center for activities, resources, and information on growing beautiful, earth-wise gardens. Visit Smokey the Bear from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.! Take a Garden Tour at 2:30 p.m., led by a Grow Green plant expert at the Green Garden (near the Garden Center)! Create miniature faerie houses, forts, or sculptures at the Zilker Botanical Garden table!
–> Beer Garden
For the first time, the festival will feature a Craft Beer Garden, partnering with Independence Brewing Co. to offer guests a selection of brews including Austin Amber, Power & Light, White Rabbit, and notably a special batch of popular seasonal Redbud brewed with cucumbers.
–> Food Court
Guests can enjoy food and drink offerings in the food court from vendors including Amy’s Ice Creams, Crepe Crazy, Heros Gyros, and more.
–> Music: Great for the whole family, this year’s live music line-up features Grace Pettis, Giulia Millanta, Folkwine, Burgess Meredith, and Mayeux and Broussard.
— Admission:
$10 Adults (age 13+), $4 Children (age 4-12), free for kids under age 4. Parking is $5.
Please note that the grounds will be closed to the public and to photographers all day Friday, April 1, 2016, for Festival setup.
For more information including a schedule of events and vendor map, please visit the Zilker Garden Festival website.
