Event Details

Admission to Lewis Ginter Botanical is FREE on Friday, June 19th in honor of Juneteenth. The universally-accessible Klaus Family Tree House will be open for all to enjoy, as will Waterway splash pad in the Children’s Garden. The air-conditioned Library is also available for cooling off.  Visitors can also explore our outdoor art exhibition, Alebrijes with installations located throughout iconic areas of the Garden including the now open expansion. Moreover, we will have the Butterflies Bloom exhibit available until we reach capacity, so plan to come early!

Special programming for the day also includes:

10am: Storytime in the Lora M. Robins Library with Shauntae Lilly.

10am – 1pm: Artist Ron Stokes will be live painting in the Reading Garden.

10am – 3pm: Music by DJ B-Rice of Mid-Atlantic Jams.

11am – 12pm: Historical Interpretation presentation by Michael Carter Jr. of Carter Farms beginning in the Auditorium, and moving to the Central Garden.

12:15pm – 12:45pm: Shauntae Lilly will perform in the Rose Garden.

1 pm – 2 pm: Edna Lewis Documentary will be screening in the Auditorium.

2pm – 2:30pm:  Shauntae Lilly will offer vocal performances in the Auditorium.

2:30 – 3:30 pm: Esther Manor Farm Cultural Foodways Presentation & Tasting: an interactive presentation exploring African heritage crops, Black food traditions, storytelling, and cultural preservation through food.

Food trucks including Philly Vegan, Lib True Taste, and Ruby Scoops will be onsite. As a reminder, no outside food or drink is permitted except for water bottles.

Juneteenth Will Be a Busy Day at the Garden. Here are some details and tips to keep in mind:

1. What to Bring: Prepare for a warm day! Bring water bottles & sunscreen; wear comfortable shoes and clothing. Lawn chairs and blankets are allowed. We have water fountains and water bottle refill stations.

2. What Not to Bring: Please do not bring outside food into the Garden. We have food in the Garden Cafe, food truck vendors, and there are vending machines in the Children’s Garden. Please also do not bring sporting equipment such as Frisbees, bicycles, etc. into the Garden; learn more guidelines for a great visit. Our Garden is now a smoke and tobacco free zone, prohibiting smoking, vaping, or tobacco use. This decision protects the health and well-being of our guests, staff, and plants and keeps our air and our Gardens cleaner for all. The only place guests may smoke, vape or use tobacco is inside their personal vehicles.

3. Parking: Carpool if you can! Parking is limited and once lots are full, the Garden will close gates temporarily. Gates will re-open once space becomes available. We appreciate your patience; our security staff works hard to ensure everyone’s safety. If parking off-site, please be considerate of our neighbors and do not block driveways.

4. Plan Your Visit: Here’s more info for planning your Garden visit, including accessibility. We’ll have extra Garden staff and volunteers working on Juneteenth, so look for us — we’re here to help! Please note: The Conservatory is currently closed due to our expansion project and will reopen in 2026. Learn more about THRIVE: A Campaign for Communities.

PHOTO RELEASE POLICY

• Photography of visitors, events and activities at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden for Juneteenth Free Community Day are taken for promotional and editorial use to advance the mission of the Garden. Your attendance at this event implies your consent to display and/or publish any photographs in which your image appears.
• Guests who do not consent to this policy may opt out of a photo by informing the photographer.
• These images become the property of Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. They may be used in any and all Garden publications and media without limitation or reservation, and are not subject to compensation.