Kelley Family Days from May 29 to 31 provide free entrance to Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden with paid general admission
The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden invites the community to visit the garden during Memorial Day weekend, an official kick-off to summer. The action-packed weekend includes live music, cooking demonstrations, a curated “Celebrating America” playlist created by Top Ten Records for the garden, and food and drink specials at The Terrace Café. Active military, retired and veteran military and active first responders receive free admission all weekend with proper identification; free admission for these individuals is at the gate only and not available to reserve online.
Summer of Sculpture Exhibit
Now through August 8, visitors can stroll the garden to see the Summer of Sculpture exhibit featuring ZimSculpt, a world-renowned collection of hand-selected, modern Zimbabwean stone sculptures. ZimSculpt features the talent of several contemporary Zimbabwean artists with more than 100 hand-selected, exquisite sculptures artfully displayed throughout the garden. These contemporary pieces, created by the Shona people of Zimbabwe, are carved from various types of serpentine and semi-precious stone, often weighing tons, and can be as large as seven feet tall. Daily, Zimbabwean sculptors carve statues for people to see and ask questions. Visitors may purchase any of the sculptures on display in the garden, as well as the ones created by the onsite artists in The Marketplace, which is located in the Dallas Arboretum’s Pecan Grove.
For guests who are interested in visiting Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden, Memorial Day weekend includes Kelley Family Days from May 29 to 31 when there is free entrance with paid general garden admission.
According to Jacie Hood, RMCAG public programs manager, “These special Kelley Days provide an excellent opportunity to explore this garden where science and fun become one. This eight-acre interactive garden has plenty for the young and young-at-heart to discover including watching a live puppet show, participating in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) stops to learn science, learning how to make electricity and more.”
Dallas Arboretum Board Chairman Jim Ryan added, “Now that children are getting out of school and others are home from college, families are looking for something to do together. The Dallas Arboretum is the perfect place with something for everyone to do whether you’re a year old, a senior or somewhere in between. You can pack a picnic or purchase food and make memories together.”
Main Garden Activities:
Saturday, May 29
11 a.m.–2 p.m.: Snowbaby cooking demo & vendor sale (A Tasteful Place)
2 p.m.: Missing 3 concert (classic to current rock and roll favorites) (Martin Rutchik Concert Stage & Lawn)
Daily: ZimSculpt exhibition and carving
Sunday, May 30
12 p.m.: Live performance by the Dallas Tap Dazzlers
2 p.m.: Justin Kemp concert (country) (Martin Rutchik Concert Stage & Lawn)
Daily: ZimSculpt exhibition and carving
Monday, May 31 (Memorial Day)
10:30 a.m.: Window to the Wild bird show and Q&A (Martin Rutchik Concert Stage & Lawn)
11 a.m.: Dallas College Cooks demo (A Tasteful Place)
2 p.m.: TBA Music – (A five-piece variety band that plays pop, soul and Motown hits.)
Daily: ZimSculpt exhibition and carving
Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden Activities:
Kelley Family Days
Saturday-Monday, May 29-31
Thanks to a gift from the Kelley Family, guests with general garden admission also receive free entrance to the Children’s Adventure Garden.
STEM Stops
11 a.m.: Light Up Poppies – Learn about the cultural significance of poppies as children create a paper light-up poppy to wear.
1:30 p.m.: Animal Secrets – How can animals hide in plain sight? Create a camouflaged animal that can hide in the Children’s Adventure Garden.
3:30 p.m.: Garden Chefs – Learn about how healthy food goes from plant to plate.
The Glade Puppet Show
Weekends:10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
This Week’s Book: Ava’s Poppy, based on the book by Marcus Pfister
The Live Science Show
Weekends: 1:00 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Dry Ice Discoveries: Dry ice is great for special effects, but these frozen blocks of fun are also a great way to learn about carbon dioxide! Discover the science of this special substance from its role with air, plants and the ocean.
May 29-30: Bobbing for Potatoes and May 31: Bio Bounce
Walne Family Discovery Lab
Daily: 10 a.m., noon, 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Exploration Center
(Please note that this program is for ages 6+.)
OmniGlobe
Daily at 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Exploration Center
ZimSculpt is supported in part by the Dallas Tourism Public Improvement District.
About the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden:
The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is located on the southeastern shore of White Rock Lake at 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, Texas 75218. The Dallas Arboretum is also the home of the internationally acclaimed Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden. The Arboretum is open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. General admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors 65 and older, $10 for children 2-12 and free for Arboretum members and children two and under. There is an additional cost of $3 per person for entrance into the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden, except for Kelley Family Days. Parking is $10. The Dallas Morning News is the principal partner of the Dallas Arboretum. The Arboretum is supported, in part, by funds from the Dallas Park and Recreation Department. WFAA is an official media sponsor for the Dallas Arboretum. For more information, call 214.515.6500 or visit www.dallasarboretum.org.
