The annual Zilker Garden Festival will be held Saturday, March 28 and Sunday, March 29 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The Zilker Garden Festival has heralded Spring’s arrival in Austin for over 50 years, as an event designed for those who love to shop, learn, and enjoy gardens.
A Kids’ Corner will entertain kids while they participate in fun activities such as building birdhouses, making butterfly wings and masks, learning about plants, and even having their faces painted. Adults will enjoy listening to Gardening Talks from local gardening experts while relaxing under a big, white tent next to the Garden Center. Aficionados and amateurs alike will enjoy marveling at the glorious specimens found at the Flower Show in the Garden Center, which features judged floral designs plus an array of horticultural specimens.
While perusing the festival’s many offerings, attendees will be able to listen to live music coming from the Soundstage in the Rose Garden and also can stop and snack at the Food Court in the Oak Grove on the Escarpment Trail. The City of Austin also will be hosting programs designed to help gardeners grow sustainable, earth-wise gardens – head to the Escarpment Trail near the Butterfly Garden for these educational talks.
Tickets are $8 for adults (age 13+), $4 for children (age 4-12), and under age 4 are free. Pre-purchased tickets are discounted. Parking will be available nearby for $5.
Shopping
One of the biggest draws for the Zilker Garden Festival is the shopping! A variety of vendors from Central Texas will offer a plethora of plants, from native and adapted annuals and perennials to cacti and succulents to veggies and herbs to orchids and tropical plants. Attendees also can shop for garden-themed arts & crafts, pottery, custom jewelry, handmade artistic clothing, herbal products, garden hats, and more. For the best selection and shopping experience, arrive early and bring a wagon for carrying all your new purchases!