Fourth of July at the Dallas Arboretum
The recipe for a winning Independence Day is simple: some good food, a little bit of patriotic music and lots of fun. Lucky for you, we’re throwing a Fourth of July blowout for our Dallas family, and you’re invited to the Arboretum to pay tribute to the red, white and blue.
The party kicks off at 7:30PM, Thursday, July 3, with our final Cool Thursday concert of the spring/summer season. Join us on the Martin Rutchik Concert Lawn for spectacular views of White Rock Lake and the cheerful sounds of the Dallas Wind Symphony’s patriotic favorites, including “America the Beautiful.” You can still buy your tickets here.
Continue your Fourth of July festivities at the Arboretum all weekend long. Retired and active military members get free general garden admission with valid ID, and general garden admission for non-military guests is just $5 Friday, July 4 through Monday, July 7, on-site at the ticket booth.
You don’t have to worry about firing up the grill either. We’re providing an American-themed feast of $1 hot dogs and $1 popcorn that you can enjoy while strolling through our gorgeous gardens. We’ll have patriotic decorations accenting our lush greenery and music to add to the experience.
Don’t forget to indulge in all the educational activities in the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden, and take a stroll along the Paseo de Flores, our main garden pathway. Enjoy photo opps at Magnolia Glade, the Crape Myrtle Allee, the Toad Corners Fountain, the Shadow Garden and Pecan Grove. Pack a picnic basket with family treats and find a spot to eat together or grab a bite at the Canopy Cafe.
We’ve got activities going on for all ages in the Children’s garden on the 4th, including:
All Day Stars and Stripes Scavenger Hunt
Families can work together to find and photograph examples of stars and stripes in the Children’s Garden. Locate the beautiful shapes and patterns created by nature in this exciting scavenger hunt.
10 a.m. Red, White, and Blue- Plants Change Hue. Head to Plants Are Alive to see a demonstration of how water travels up the stem of a flower.
10:30 a.m. Storytime with Earl the Eagle. Earl will read a book in the Habitats nest about the American Bald Eagle and how it became the symbol of America.
11 a.m. How Sweet Is It: Plant Lab in the Exploration Center with Melissa. Kids can measure the sugar levels of different flower nectars to see which flowers bees would be most attracted to.
Noon Amber Waves of Grain. Just in time for lunch, swing by the Incredible Edible Garden to learn all about grains!
1 p.m. How Sweet Is It: Plant Lab in the Exploration Center
1:30 p.m. The National Flower, the Rose and the Golden Spiral. Join us in the Kaleidoscope gallery for an eye-opening discussion of the Fibonacci Sequence and the Golden Spiral in nature.
2:30 p.m. Red, White, and Blue- Plants Change Hue
3 p.m. How Sweet Is It
3:30 p.m. Storytime with Earl the Eagle
We hope you’ll join us to celebrate Fourth of July; it’s the perfect opportunity to spend time with your family, honor our servicemen and women and take in a local treasure. To find a full list of the weekend activities, head to our website here.
By the way, mark your calendars for the Cool Thursday fall opener on September 4. Emerald City, a local favorite, is set to play, and you should think about purchasing tickets now. They sell out fast!
