DALLAS, Texas — With the greatest views of the downtown Dallas skyline and White Rock Lake, the Dallas Arboretum is hailed as one of the best picnic spots in North Texas, so Dallas Blooms celebrates with the theme, “Life’s A Picnic.” Presented by IBERIABANK, the festival runs from February 23 to April 7 and features an extraordinary, larger-than-life, picnic scene topiary comprised of a stunning 40’x40’ picnic blanket, a vase of flowers, a picnic basket with pie and a giant picnic ant, sponsored by Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate. Flowers are another highlight of the festival with more than 100 varieties of spring bulbs and 500,000 blooms bursting with color.
Every weekend, there’s live music on the Martin Rutchik Concert Stage and Lawn—the perfect place to picnic—to listen to the sounds of the best of the best party bands during Dallas Blooms. Each week also showcases one of the best picnic scenes throughout film. Special events, A Tasteful Place cooking demonstrations and tastings, and the reopening of the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden add to the festivities of this favorite springtime festival. For the latest information, visit dallasarboretum.org/blooms.
Alan Walne, Dallas Arboretum board chairman, said, “Dallas Blooms showcases the creativity of our Horticulture staff, and this year we wanted to use their skills to celebrate one of the top picnic spots in the Metroplex.”
Special Activities and Discounts:
Mommy and Me Mondays & Tiny Tot Tuesdays February 25 through April 2 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Pecan Grove
Bring a picnic with the kiddos and enjoy children’s activities including face painting by A Fresh Perspective, Country Critters Petting Zoo and Kindermusik at noon.
BOGO Wednesdays
February 27-April 3, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Buy one, get one admission every Wednesday, valid at ticket booth only.
C. C. Young Senior
Thursdays February 28- April 4, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Seniors 65 and older get in for $12 general garden admission on Thursdays and receive a 20 percent discount in the Hoffman Family Gift Store.
Tom Thumb $1 off General Garden Admission
February 23-April 7
Tom Thumb offers $1 off Dallas Blooms admission tickets, available at area Tom Thumb locations.
Hoffman Family Gift Store- Book Signings and Tastings
Book Signings
March 23- Diane Box, Fred and Tator
April 6-Debbie Reece, The Worst Day Ever
Tastings
March 16- Bentley’s Batch 5 barbecue sauce
April 6- TEAinTEXAS tea with Lea Garcia
Spring Tea
Monday-Friday, February 25-April 5 11 a.m. & 2 p.m.
Enjoy Spring Tea, which includes a three-course meal with three different tea options. Teas are available Monday through Friday with seating at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. for $49 per person, or an additional $10 to add champagne. Reservations are required. Contact Isabella DiBiase at 214-515-6511 or teas@dallasarboretum.org
Wine Down Wednesdays with Checkered Past Winery
Every Wednesday, February 27 through April 3 2-4 p.m., Val Late Garden
Sample some of the best wines to take on a picnic. It’s the perfect opportunity to get some suggestions for fantastic spring wines.
Basket Weaving Demo & Sale-The Texas Basket Weavers
Every Thursday, February 28 – April 4 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Crape Myrtle Allee
Need a handmade one-of-a-kind basket for a picnic or table at home? The Texas Basket Weavers are on-site to demonstrate and sell beautiful baskets during the picnic-themed spring festival.
Live Music on the Martin Rutchik Concert Stage and Lawn
Every Saturday & Sunday, February 23-April 7, 2-4 p.m.
Pack a picnic and enjoy live music featuring the best of the best of Dallas’ wedding and party bands.
March 16 Reckless Angels
March 17 The Royal Dukes Band
March 23 No Limits Band
March 24 Dallas Dance Band
March 30 One Frett Off
March 31 Audio Cannon
April 6 Mix Tape Band
April 7 Walton Stout Band
Spring Choirs, Acapella Groups and Live Entertainment
The DeGolyer Pergola
March 15 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Beloit High School Choir
March 25 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Booker T Jazz Combo
March 30 10-11 a.m. Westminster Academy Choir
March 30 12-1 p.m. Brookhaven College Vivace Magicals
April 5 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Lakeview Centennial High School Choir
April 6 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Dan D. Rogers Elementary School Choir
Best Picnic Scenes throughout Film
Daily, 10 a.m-3 p.m.
Orientation Theater
The picnic inspired films set the mood and encourage guests to have a picnic in the garden.
March 16 – March 22 Picnic at Hanging Rock, 1975
March 23 – March 29 Out of Africa, 1985
March 30 – April 1 Emma, 1996
April 2 – April 7 Up, 2009
Spring Break 2019
March 9-17
Wine Down Wednesday
March 13, 12-3 p.m.
Val Late Garden
Enjoy sampling perfect wines to take on a picnic with Checkered Past Winery.
Thirsty Thursday
March 14, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Jonsson Color Garden
Sample local breweries such as Pegasus City Brewery and Celestial Beer Works.
Enjoy live music in Jonsson Color Garden and picnic in the garden.
Friday Franks
March 15, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Enjoy local pit masters as they serve up some BBQ tastings at Café on the Green.
Just Encased Craft Sausages is onsite selling delicious sausages. Listen to live music.
Saturday, March 16, 2-4 p.m.
Martin Rutchik Concert Stage and Lawn
Enjoy picnicking and live music with Reckless Angels Band.
Sunday, March 17, 2-4 p.m.
Martin Rutchik Concert Stage and Lawn
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with green beer from Café on the Green.
Wear green and enjoy picnicking and live music with The Royal Dukes Band and festive Irish music from Roberta Rast as she tears it up on the fiddle.
3rd Annual Dallas Arboretum Food and Wine Festival
March 21-23-Tickets sell out every year.
March 21: A Grand Tasting, General Admission: 7-10 p.m., Patron Admission: 6-10 p.m. Jonsson Color Garden
March 22: Vintners’ Dinner and Master Cooking Classes 10 a.m.-Noon-Peter Barlow 1-3 p.m.- Mary Chamberlin Vintners’ Dinner, 6-10 p.m., A Tasteful Place
March 23: The Chef’s Garden’s Roots on the Road conference and Farm-to-Table Dinner A ticket for the workshop and dinner is $225. A dinner-only ticket is $125. For tickets, and a full schedule of events, visit www.dallasarboretum.org/foodandwinefest
A Tasteful Place: To learn more, register for cooking classes and special events, visit www.dallasarboretum.org/cookingclasses
Seasonal Tastings
Every day, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Ruthie Pack’s Tasting Plaza
Try three free different samples featuring a weekly vegetable, fruit or herb from the garden. Visit www.dallasarboretum.org/recipes for past, current and future recipes.
DEMONSTRATION COOKING: El Centro College Cooks Every Monday, 11 a.m.-Noon Donald and Charlotte Test Pavilion Participate in this popular demonstration cooking class, taught by Chef Jordan Swim from the college’s nationally recognized culinary school.
February- Celery & Apple Chopped Salad and Caraway & Cranberry Sautéed Cabbage March- Texas Caviar and Tomato Jam and Brie Crostini April-Honey Roasted Radishes and Creamy Dilled Green Bean Salad
DEMONSTRATION COOKING AND TALKS: Select Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-Noon Donald and Charlotte Test Pavilion Free with paid garden admission
March 14 Cindy Cunningham and Bernadette Latson, retired UT Southwestern Nutrition Faculty, “Wrap Up Your Picnic”
March 20 Becky Foulk, Author of Cooking Soup to Nuts
March 27 Jordan Swim, Vestals Catering
April 10 Chef Jeramie Robison, City Hall Bistro
Flower Power A Meditative Walk in the Garden
April 26 • Level 1 • 10:30am-Noon
May 17 • Level 2 • 10:30am-Noon $45
In the last 30 years, the immediacy of the technology coupled with the “I must have this” causes havoc on the body, brain and spirit. Bodies can go into in crisis mode with digestive disorders, anxiety and panic attacks. In this two-part series, Patricia Dedman Nail, owner of 6-D Design and clinical psychotherapist, teaches a processes that can be used to combat stress. Class is held in A Tasteful Place, followed by a healing meditative walk in the garden. For more information, please see website or call 214-515-6615.
The Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden
STEAM Career Week –Spring Break, March 11-15
Going Green for St. Patrick’s Day Weekend, March 16-17
Wild Weather Weekend, March 23-24
Magnificent Migrations Weekend, March 30-31
Healthy Heapings Weekend, April 6 -7
EGG-stravaganza Easter Weekend, April 12-14 & 19-21 Extra Weekend Added!
The garden features daily Little Adventurer activities, Plant Labs and OmniGlobe demonstrations. For more details, check the website.
For those needing to book a speaker for a program, call 972-270-1191 or email speakers@dallasarboretum.org
Blooms 2019 Sponsors IBERIABANK, DallasChild, Tom Thumb, C. C. Young and Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate
About the Dallas Arboretum The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens 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 $17 for adults, $14 for seniors 65 and older, $12 for children 2-12 during the Dallas Blooms Festival, and free for Arboretum members and children under two. On-site parking is $15 or $9, if purchased in advance online. 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.
–Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens
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