Public Events

Arbor Day Festival
Saturday, April 29
10am - 4pm
At last! It is Arbor Day at The Arboretum! This is a long-awaited event for both man and tree. Think about it—Trees give us fruits, nuts, wood for homes, fuel, paper, medicines, shade and beauty—Arbor Day Festival gives us an opportunity to show appreciation to Mother Nature. An array of activities and educational displays go on all day, including tree climbing and kids' crafts.
Plant Sale & Auction
Saturday, May 20
9am – 1pm
Horticulture Complex
The most important function of the year, for Dawes and for you! It’s as basic as who we are. Planting trees and shrubs enhances your life and improves the environment. An incredible assortment of rare trees and shrubs are offered at reasonable prices at this event. The vast majority of these plants cannot be found in garden centers and nurseries. A silent auction of choice specimens will also take place. Horticulturists will be on hand to answer your plant questions and offer planting advice.

A sample listing of what will be available at the Plant Sale and Auction is contained in this PDF file. For additional information, please contact the Horticulture Department at 740.323.2355 or e-mail information@dawesarb.org.
26th Ohio Regional Bonsai Show
Saturday and Sunday, June 10 & 11
Saturday, 8am – 7pm and Sunday, 11am – 5pm
Free
Visitors Center
We are very excited to be holding the 26th Annual Ohio Bonsai Show at The Dawes Arboretum. This year Jim Doyle, of Nature's Way Nursery, will be the guest artist. He will be leading two workshops on Saturday, June 10, and a demonstration on Sunday, June 11. As always, The Arboretum will have oodles of bonsai plants, pots, tools, books and other materials available for sale throughout the weekend. Don't miss this great opportunity to see living artistry with over 100 bonsai trees on display both Saturday and Sunday. Ongoing demonstrations and lectures will be held throughout the day and all are free of charge to visitors. Reservations and fees are required for the special Jim Doyle workshop on Saturday.

Workshops with Jim Doyle:

Workshop I - Indoor plants

9am - noon, $70/$65 members

Workshop II - Outdoor plants

1 - 4pm, $70/$65 members

Columbus Symphony Orchestra and Fireworks!
Sunday, July 9
8:15pm, fireworks to follow the concert
$10, children under 2 admitted free
Concert Stage
The Columbus Symphony Orchestra will be performing an outdoor community concert on Sunday, July 9 at The Dawes Arboretum. A spectacular fireworks display will follow the performance. Gates open at 4pm for picnicking and the concert will begin at 8:15pm. There is no rain date scheduled for this performance. Conducted by Albert-George Schram, the program includes works from Warren Casey, Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and John Phillip Sousa among others. Picnicking is encouraged and expected! Blankets and chairs are welcome too. For information on ordering pre-made dinner boxes, please contact Visitors Services at 740.323.2355 or e-mail information@dawesarb.org.

Tickets are $10 and will be sold on location or by calling The Arboretum at (740) 323-2355 or 1-800-44-DAWES. Children 2 and under are admitted free of charge.

Albert-George Schram, a native of the Netherlands, currently serves as Resident Staff Conductor of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra and as a regular guest conductor of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. His longest tenure has been with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, where he has worked in a variety of capacities since 1979, and is an audience favorite for all series he conducts, including Pops and the CSO's summer season.

Plant Oktoberfest
Saturday, October 21
8am – 5pm
$60, box lunch included
Visitors Center
This all-day conference focuses on selection, cultivation and uses of conifers. Daniel Luscombe speaks on the role and performance of conifers in English gardens; Sue Martin discusses the Gotelli Collection of the U.S. National Arboretum; and Talon Buchholz presents recent conifer cultivar introductions.
Gardening with conifers on a microscale--trough gardening; landscaping with conifers and how they augment our gardens; and unusual witches'-brooms and stories beind them will be presented by Gary Whittenbaugh, Richard Bitner and Joe Stupka. This is your chance to hear enjoyable talk from true conifer fans and industry professionals! Register early and specify special dietary needs.