Spend Summer at Holden Arboretum with Pollinator Express, Concerts in the Forest, Firefly Hikes and More
(KIRTLAND) May 16, 2024 – The Holden Arboretum welcomes the summer season with a new railroad exhibit Pollinator Express, a calendar filled with outdoor events and experiences, and gorgeous grounds for exploring. All season long, enjoy concerts in the forest, wine tastings, guided hikes, and so much more.
SUMMER AT THE HOLDEN ARBORETUM PHOTOS - COURTESY OF HOLDEN FORESTS & GARDENS
OPENING Saturday, May 25 | Pollinator Express
Pollinator Express features G-scale model trains chugging through a colorful garden bed of pollinator favorites. Ten larger-than-life garden sculptures depict unique plants from around the globe paired with the insects and animals they depend on for pollination. In an inventive twist, the whole display is built with unique and creative botanical materials.
SUMMER NIGHTS AT THE HOLDEN ARBORETUM
Each Wednesday from June 5 – August 28, the Arboretum will stay open late, until 8 p.m. Enjoy golden hour on the Murch Canopy Walk and Kalberer Emergent Tower, your favorite Arboretum gardens and trails, and special evening events. New this year, the Holden Arboretum will offer discounted admission after 5 p.m. on Wednesdays. Cost is $10 per adult and $7 per child ages three to 12 (free for children two and under). Admission is free for Holden Forests & Gardens members. Discount does not apply for evening ticketed events and already-discounted admission rates. Tickets can be purchased in person or online at holdenfg.org.
Concerts in the Forest | Wednesdays, June 5, July 10 & August 7, 6 – 7:30pm
Enjoy live music in a gorgeous setting, great food, a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and quality time with friends and family out in nature. Off the GRIDdle food truck will be onsite, the Spice Grab and Go Café Cooler will be stocked, and libations will be available for purchase beginning at 5:30 p.m. Concerts will run from 6 to 7:30 p.m. This year’s concert series lineup is brought to you by Roots of American Music. Concerts in the Forest are included with Arboretum admission. Concerts in the Forest Registration.
Roots of American Music provides arts-integrated programs to diverse communities while promoting and preserving traditional American music -- old-time country, folk, gospel, blues, and early rock -- to enhance educational outcomes and enrich people's lives. Their performances will be:
Wednesday, June 5: Roots of American Music featuring Liz Bullock
Wednesday, July 10: Roots of American Music featuring Lake Erie Roots Collective
Wednesday, August 7: Roots of American Music featuring Apostle Jones
Apollo’s Fire Countryside Concerts, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons – Rediscovered | Wednesday - Sunday, July 17 – 21
Vivaldi’s beloved classic comes to the countryside! Jeannette Sorrell and violinist Alan Choo present the Four Seasons as the revolutionary acts of musical storytelling that Vivaldi intended. Alongside Vivaldi, soprano Andréa Walker presents delightful 17th-century songs about nature by Henry Purcell and Thomas Morley. Registration for Apollo’s Fire Countryside Concerts.
Tails & Trails | Wednesdays, June 12, July 24 & August 14, from 5 – 8 p.m.
On select Wednesdays this summer, the first 100 pups through the gate will receive a Holden Forests & Gardens logo bandana. Enjoy plenty of water stations, dog treats and an opportunity to meet up with other dogs (and their owners). Included in general admission.
Blooms & Brews | Wednesday, June 26, 6 – 7 p.m.
Enjoy a summer sampler event featuring a selection of summertime brews. During this tasting class, learn about the flavor profile of your favorite and soon-to-be new favorite beers. Each attendee will taste six different summer brews and go home with a mixed 6 pack. Purchase tickets at holdenfg.org. Blooms & Brews Registration.
Yoga with Bottoms Up! | Wednesdays, June 19, July 31 & August 28, 6 – 7 p.m.
It won’t be a stretch to enjoy yoga outside in the gardens this summer. Featuring instructors from Bottoms up Yoga. Registration for Bottoms Up! Yoga.
Notes of Nature Wine Tasting | Wednesday, August 21, 6 – 8 p.m.
Spend time in one of the Arboretum’s most beautiful gardens during golden hour. Enjoy wine tasting and food stations while taking in the breathtaking scenery. Registration for Notes of Nature Wine Tasting.
WHAT’S IN BLOOM?
Immerse yourself in the Rhododendron Discovery Garden to see stunning Rhododendrons and Azaleas that are now in bloom into June. See over 400 native plants in our Wildflower Garden which is filled with vibrant blooms all summer long. You can’t miss the fragrant lilacs in one of the arboretum’s most iconic attractions: The Display Garden. The Holden Butterfly Garden is a haven for bees, butterflies and hummingbirds—not to mention the visitors who are drawn to its soothing tranquility. Two placid ponds are surrounded by a lush garden, filled with summer blooming plants that attract vital pollinators. Visit our Get Growing Blog to see what’s blooming each week.
SUMMER FAVORITES
Kalberer Emergent Tower and Murch Canopy Walk
Take your love of nature to new heights. The Emergent Tower is 12 stories tall and provides a breathtaking view of the surrounding area all the way to Lake Erie. The Murch Canopy Walk invites guests to enjoy an elevated walk, 65 feet above the forest floor. Immerse yourself in – and above – nature for a unique, summer perspective. Structures are open Tuesday-Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 7:45 p.m., and included in general admission.
Buckeye Bud’s Adventure Woods
Buckeye Bud’s is a wonderfully whimsical playground where kids can hop, jump, and limbo their way through the balance logs, put on a performance at the Nature Theater, or play a game or two of tic tac toe. Search for frogs and turtles in nearby Buttonbush Bog from new heights atop our observation tower.
Tram Tours
Sit back and tour the Holden Arboretum in a new way! These 45-minute tours will give guests an overview of the grounds and gardens with a focus on seasonal highlights. You’ll also learn a little history and get a sneak peek into some of the scientific work that happens behind the scenes. Tram Tour schedule, ticket pricing, and FAQs.
GET GROWING WITH SUMMER CLASSES
Working Woods Field Day | Saturday, June 1, 9 – 11:30 a.m., 1 – 3:30 p.m.
See what good forest management practices look like in “real time”! Don’t miss this opportunity to talk with land managers and natural resource professionals about your woodland stewardship concerns. Join us at Working Woods for our annual field day, where the demonstration forest is open to the public for guided tours, updates on ongoing research, and conversation with professionals from the ODNR Division of Forestry and regional natural resource agencies. Tours will include Forest farming: mushroom log cultivation, high value botanicals and food-producing shrubs, Research/updates on forest pests and pathogens, and more. Cost: Free with cost of admission or membership, registration required. Registration for Working Woods Field Day.
The Benefits of Nature for All Ages | Saturday, June 8, 1 – 2 p.m.
Stressed out by these uncertain times Join Professor Donald Rakow for a discussion on how connecting to the natural world can reduce stress, promote mental health, and lead to positive health outcomes for all ages. This talk will explore some of the major stressors in our modern world as well as recent scientific evidence that confirms that spending time in nature can improve human health. Participants will leave with a new understanding of the power of nature and motivation for adding nature engagement into their regular routine. Cost: $20 per member, $30 per nonmember. Registration for The Benefits of Nature for All Ages.
Meet our Scientists | Saturday, June 8 and June 15, 11 a.m. – noon, Saturday, June 29 and July 13, 4 – 5 p.m.
Join us for unique new opportunities to meet and learn from Holden Arboretums’ renowned scientists. Nature-lovers of all ages can learn about our ground-breaking research and conservation efforts while discovering the labs and natural areas where this work is being done. This series is free and open to the public. Registration is highly encouraged. Registration for Meet Our Scientists.
Firefly Foray | Sunday, June 22, 8 – 11 p.m.
Did you know that Ohio is home to more than 20 species of fireflies? While we are familiar with the variety that lights up our lawns, there are so many more to be seen. Join Cleveland Metroparks Naturalist and firefly enthusiast Carly Martin as we take in the wonder of firefly diversity in a search for several different species. We’ll start off indoors with fun facts and identification techniques, then hit the trails and the Canopy Walk to explore different habitats in the increasing darkness. If we’re lucky, we’ll finish off the night by seeing a local population of synchronizing fireflies. Cost: $30 per member, $40 per nonmember. Age: Adult, teens 13 & over with adult. The length of this hike and its educational content are not designed for children. Registration for Firefly Foray.
Flower Power: Buds & Blossoms in Folklore & Folk Medicine | Saturday, July 27, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
The buds and blossoms of plants inspire us with their beauty, fragrance, and color. Culture is shaped by the environment, and flowers bloom in folk medicine and folklore throughout the world. Join herbalist Leah Wolfe of the Trillium Center on a guided walk through the gardens at Holden Arboretum while listening to stories of bewitching love charms, old medicinal cures and current research, and tips on how to make your own flower power. After the walk, we’ll make a flower elixir to take home. Cost: $35 per member, $50 per nonmember. Registration for Flower Power: Buds & Blossoms in Folklore & Folk Medicine.
Family Campout | Saturday, August 3 – Sunday, August 4
Experience Holden Arboretum in a brand-new way - after hours! Explore the great outdoors and discover the diversity of wildlife that flies, swims, and grows around the Arboretum. Enjoy exclusive views from Kalberer Emergent Tower at dusk and investigate our nighttime residents. Roam our trails at night or opt for a sweet treat around the campfire - there is so much fun to be had! Cost: $35 per member, $40 per nonmember.
HAVE A PICNIC with SPICE GRAB AND GO CAFÉ COOLER
Fuel your forest + garden adventure from our Spice Grab + Go Café Cooler! Colorful, crave-able, nutrient-dense meals and snacks from Chef Ben Bebenroth and the team at Spice Hospitality Group are back for the sunny season. Stop by the Visitor Center to grab a satisfying salad or grain bowl, healthy snack, or beverage from our convenient self-serve cooler. Enjoy your picks in a beloved spot on our grounds for a Spiced-up picnic! Fresh salads and snacks from Spice Grab + Go Café Cooler are available Thursday-Sunday during Arboretum opening hours.
SUMMER HOURS
The Holden Arboretum is open Tuesday – Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission before 5 p.m. is $20 per adult and $14 per child ages three to 12 (free for children two and under). Admission is free for Holden Forests & Gardens members. Tickets can be purchased in person or online at holdenfg.org.
About the Holden Arboretum and Holden Forests & Gardens
The Holden Arboretum, located east of Cleveland in Kirtland, Ohio, sprawls over an enchanting expanse of land in Lake and Geauga Counties and offers gardens, trails, lakes and meadows. The Holden Arboretum is part of Holden Forests & Gardens along with the Cleveland Botanical Garden in Cleveland’s University Circle cultural district. Holden Forests & Gardens is making a positive impact through urban greening and forestry initiatives, environmental research, educational programs, and world-class visitor experiences at its two campuses. For more information, visit holdenfg.org.