Upcoming Events & Exhibitions
Below is a list of upcoming Garden events and exhibits. The Garden also has lots of great adult classes and children’s activities. Visit our calendar to see and search for more events.
Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights
Member Preview Weekend Nov. 15-17; November 18, 2024 – January 5, 2025
A favorite tradition featuring more than a million lights, botanical decorations, model trains, hot chocolate and s’mores (for purchase)! Advance tickets will be required and available online only. Tickets will be limited and have timed arrivals.
Pungmulnoli Performance
November 19, 2024 6-7 p.m.
Experience the vibrant rhythms of Pungmul, a dynamic Korean harvest tradition. This lively performance features drumming, dance, and colorful costumes, celebrating the spirit of gratitude and abundance. Join us for an unforgettable cultural showcase amidst the beauty of our illuminated garden.
The Nutcracker
November 26, 2024 6:30-8 p.m.
Step into a magical winter wonderland with The Nutcracker, performed by the talented young dancers of the Concert Ballet of Virginia. Watch as the timeless holiday classic unfolds in the enchanting setting of our Rose Garden.
SPARC Choral Concert
December 3, 2024 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Delight in the joyous sounds of the season with SPARC’s Touring Ensemble, performing holiday choral classics in the heart of our Rose Garden. Let the voices of these talented young singers fill the air with festive cheer, creating a magical atmosphere for all to enjoy.
Hanover High School Choral Concert
December 10, 2024 6-8 p.m.
Join the Hanover High School Treble Choir for their performance, Holidays on the Big Screen. During this special event, the students from Hanover will take you on a musical journey through classic songs from iconic holiday movies, along with a selection of other beloved holiday favorites sprinkled throughout!
Henrico High School Choral Concert
December 17, 2024 6-8 p.m.
Experience the holiday spirit with the Henrico High School Chorus as they serenade you with uplifting choral arrangements in our picturesque Rose Garden. These talented students will fill the winter air with beautiful melodies, adding a festive touch to your Gardenfest experience.
Rich Soil
January 18 – March 10, 2025
Inspired by the movements and gestures of Alvin Ailey’s dance composition “Revelation”, Kristin Mays’ expression of the human form through wire pays honor to the ancestors — those that walked, lived and tended to this land.
Garden Ink
February 8, 2025 (ticketed event for ages 21+)
Explore and celebrate the artistry of botanical tattoos.
Homes & Habitat
Spring and Summer 2025
Explore the beauty and importance of interconnected environments through the eyes of multiple artists. Homes and habitats are where nature and community intertwine and every environment plays a vital role in sustenance for life. Welcome HOME!
Past 2024 Events
African Violet Show and Sale
April 5-7, 2024
Interesting and unusual African violet varieties on display and for purchase.
The Big Bloom
Friday, April 12
This fun and festive spring garden party kicks off our season of A Million Blooms. Live music, food, and beverages. This is an adults-only, ticketed event.
40th Anniversary Speaker Series: Celebrating the History of the Garden
Friday, April 19
Join three visionary leaders as they come together to discuss the evolution of the Garden from its very earliest days to the recent past. This is a ticketed event.
Spring Plant Sale
May 3 & 4, 2024
More than 40 vendors selling plants ranging from well-known favorites to rare exotics and other garden-related items. Presented by Garden volunteers.
Central Virginia Iris Society Show & Sale
May 5, 2024
The sale will take place from 10 AM – 4 PM in Robins Visitors Center Atrium, and the show will be from 12 – 4 PM in the Robins Room
Richmond Rose Society Show
May 18 & 19, 2024
Enjoy displays of specimen roses and get advice from the rose experts.
Memorial Day Free Admission for Military Personnel
May 27, 2024
On Memorial Day (only) the Garden offers FREE admission for military personnel and/or their dependents with valid military ID card.
The Latin Ballet of Virginia presents: MILAGROS
May 29, 2024
Experience the performing arts interpretation of the acclaimed novel MILAGROS, Girl from Away by Meg Medina, National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature 2023-24 and NYT Bestselling Author.
Groovin' in the Garden: Carbon Leaf
May 30, 2024
Our 2024 Groovin’ in the Garden concert series kicks off with Richmond’s own Carbon Leaf. This show is presented by Broadberry Entertainment Group.
A Million Blooms
March 20-May 31, 2024
The Garden’s celebration of spring! Events throughout the season include Spring Plant Sale and plant shows.
Groovin' in the Garden: Drive-By Truckers
June 10, 2024
Our 2024 Groovin’ in the Garden concert series continues with Drive-By Truckers: Southern Rock Opera Revisited 2024 Tour. This show is presented by Broadberry Entertainment Group.
Groovin' in the Garden: Ben Folds (SOLD OUT)
June 11, 2024
Our 2024 Groovin’ in the Garden concert series continues with Ben Folds: The Paper Airplane Request Tour. This show is presented by Broadberry Entertainment Group.
Juneteenth Free Community Day
June 19, 2024
Admission to Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is FREE on Wednesday, June 19 in honor of Juneteenth. The Garden also has extended hours on this evening as part of Waterway Wednesdays when the splash pad is open late (weather dependent).
Richmond Area Daylily Society (RADS) Show and Sale
June 22, 2024
See hundreds of unique daylilies in an array of colors, shapes and sizes available for sale! The show will take place from 1 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. and the sale will be from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. or until sold out.
Pride Month
June 1-30, 2024
Month-long celebration honoring and bringing awareness to LGBTQ+ community! Includes our Celebrate LGBTQ+ Youth event and PRIDOS Flowers After 5. The Conservatory will be lit on Wednesday & Thursday extended evenings in Pride colors through June 27!
Free Fourth of July
July 4, 2024
Garden admission is free on July 4; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Celebrate by enjoying the gardens and feel free to wear red, white and blue and bring your decorated wagons and strollers!
Waterway Wednesday & Thursday Evenings
August
Beat the heat with longer hours at Waterway splash pad in the Children’s Garden, open late until 8:00p.m. on both Wednesday and Thursday nights in August.
40th Anniversary Speaker Series: Botanic Gardens: Seizing the Moment While Imagining the Future with Sir Peter Crane
August 14, 2024
Dive into the role of public gardens and the importance of making green space and gardens accessible to the community with Oak Spring Garden Foundation President, Sir Peter Crane. Discover opportunities that public gardens must seize to remain relevant while doing more to address important societal concerns, especially around the environment. A Q&A will follow his presentation, as will the chance to explore the 40th anniversary Flourish displays and meet our talented horticulture staff. Bloemendaal House will be the final destination, where we will have light refreshments and an opportunity to learn more about this historic part of our property.
Groovin’ in the Garden: Rumours ATL – SOLD OUT
August 22, 2024
Our 2024 Groovin’ in the Garden concert series continues with Rumours ATL: A Fleetwood Mac Tribute. This show is presented by Broadberry Entertainment Group.
Labor Day Free Community Day with Genworth
September 2, 2024
Garden admission is free on Labor Day; 9 a.m.-5 p.m.! We’re excited to be able to offer a day of relaxation and fun with 50 acres of gardens, beautiful flowers, woodland paths, and friendly people.
Fall Plant Sale
September 20 & 21, 2024
Featuring vendors selling plants ranging from well-known favorites to rare exotics and other garden-related items. Presented by Garden volunteers.
Groovin' in the Garden: Guster
September 24, 2024
Our 2024 Groovin’ in the Garden concert series continues with Guster. This show is presented by Broadberry Entertainment Group.
Artist-in-Residence Kyle Epps
April-September 2024
As part of its Flourish: 40 Years and Growing anniversary celebration, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden has commissioned contemporary American multi-disciplinary artist Kyle Epps as an artist-in-residence from April-September 2024. Epps’ work will explore the landscape and history of the Garden through a variety of mediums. Guests will be able to view the artwork in the Garden’s Community Art Gallery and Epps will also lead workshops.
40th Anniversary Speaker Series: Designing the Future
October 11, 2024, 3 - 4 p.m.
Join us for a presentation by two nationally renowned landscape designers featured in the Garden’s THRIVE expansion, which began this April. Wambui Ippolito of Wambui Design and Thomas Rainer of Phyto Studio will share the inspiration, vision and goals for their designs.
Women's Work: The Lee Park Collection
Tuesdays - Saturdays, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. through October 12, 2024
Never-before-seen selection from the Lee Park Collection, which includes 325 preserved herbarium specimens and 238 botanical watercolor illustrations. This exhibition also tells the story of and is a tribute to the female laborers, many of them Black, without whom the sanctuary that would not have been possible.
Flowers After 5
Thursday nights; May 16-October 24, 2024
Listen to a diverse mix of live music throughout the season, featuring local and regional acts. The second and fourth Thursdays of each month are Fidos After 5 nights when leashed dogs are allowed.
Flourish: Celebrating our Garden and its beauty
June-October
2024 marks the Garden’s 40th Anniversary and to celebrate our horticulturists have created new, dazzling displays throughout the Garden. This year’s summer plantings will become lush as the season progresses through fall, with surprises and vignettes to discover in four iconic areas.
Diwali
October 26, 2024, 12 - 8 p.m.
Celebrate the Festival of Lights with family-friendly activities including dancing, music, a puppet show, and henna artists.
HarvestFest
October 27, 2024, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Our celebration of fall with entertainment, crafts, activities, pumpkins, and an abundance of autumnal displays!
Storytime
Fridays & Saturdays at 10 a.m. through Saturday, November 2, 2024
Gather with us for storytime outside under the oaks in front of the Kelly Education Center each Friday and Saturday at 10 a.m. Children can also participate in a craft or hands-on activity. (Weather permitting; indoor location is the Library).
Día de los Muertos
November 2, 2024, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Experience a cultural flair in the Garden at our Día de los Muertos event! Bring offerings for the altar, try out all of our crafts, receive a sugar-skull style face-painting by Artist Vanessa Hoggins, plus much more.
Our Garden is Growing
We’re expanding our Conservatory and gardens to offer exciting new guest experiences and programming. As a result, we will not have our Butterflies LIVE! exhibit in 2024 and 2025 while we expand the Conservatory to include a permanent butterfly house.