Home is Where Natural Joy Resides

The new year yields boundless opportunities for new adventures, including a visit to Powell Gardens, Kansas City’s botanical garden. While Powell Gardens may appear dormant in the winter months of January and February, staff is busy preparing for public opening on March 1, 2024.  

Spend more time with the natural world and embrace the Midwest spirit of place at Powell Gardens! 

2024 Festivals, Exhibitions, and Signature Events

Every event Powell Gardens offers provides a unique opportunity to interact with the natural world and embrace the Midwest spirit of place. In addition to Horticulture Highlights, Powell Gardens offers seasonal festivals, exhibitions, and signature events that are perfect for every level of botanical interest.  

Orchid Delirium
March 1-April 14, 2024 

Featuring breathtaking orchids from the Powell Gardens’ collection and special botanical displays, Orchid Delirium is a breath of fresh air after a long winter season.  

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Painted Garden
April 27-June 2, 2024 

Featuring colorful botanic displays with inventive floral design and artforms, Painted Garden explores the beauty of nature and art within the Gardens.  

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Fortopia
May 23-September 2, 2024 

Tap into outdoor discovery with the whole family at Fortopia, featuring community-designed forts that explore the power of play.  

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Festival of Butterflies
July 18-August 4, 2024 

This family-friendly experience invites you to discover the world of pollinators through interactive displays and educational opportunities.  

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Dark Forest
October* 

Presented in partnership with Quixotic, usher in fall with this eerie, immersive multimedia walk-through installation in the woods.  

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Festival of Lights
November-December* 

Every holiday season, Powell Gardens provides the perfect holiday light walking experience. Bundle up and enjoy the crisp air and the magic of the season! 

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*Official dates forthcoming. 

Horticulture Highlights

In 2023, Powell Gardens introduced Horticulture Highlights, a series dedicated to spotlighting notable plant collections to visitors. In 2024, we are introducing two new ways to enjoy Powell Gardens’ collections, including Conifer Tips and Wildflower Week.  

Interacting with any of these opportunities is not only a great way to support Powell Gardens’ mission as a non-profit botanical garden, but to also experience the importance of plants in your life. Check out the list of Horticulture Highlights below for more details. 

Daffodil Days | March 27-April 7, 2024
Daffodils are often considered the herald of spring’s growing season. In addition to more than 100,000 daffodils emerging on the East Lawn, look for new daffodil spirals throughout Powell Gardens. 

Conifer Tips  | May 8-19, 2024
Explore the fascinating world of conifers at Powell Gardens, featuring the Conifer Garden, a certified Reference Garden by the American Conifer Society.

Desert Days | June 18-30, 2024
Desert Days calls attention to Powell Gardens’ cacti and succulent collections. Look for creative displays, including a crevice garden, living walls, and combination containers in Garden Galleries.

Wildflower Week  | July 9-14, 2024
Immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of our native wildflowers during Wildflower Week. This horticulture highlight showcases the vibrant colors and delicate blooms of the native Midwestern landscape. 

Waterlily Wonders | August 6-18, 2024
Summer brings Waterlily Wonders, a celebration of peak bloom in the Marlese Lowe Gourley Island Garden containers and pools. Powell Gardens’ waterlily and lotus collections have been designated as certified collections by the International Waterlily and Water Gardening Society. 

Scarecrow Trail & Pumpkin Village | October 2-13, 2024
Stroll along the Scarecrow Trail featuring the beautiful Midwest fall landscape and our favorite fall visitors—scarecrows. Along the path, discover the Pumpkin Village, complete with gourd and pumpkin displays perfect for the fall family photo. 

Educational Classes 

At Powell Gardens, we believe developing an appreciation for plants is a lifelong process. By attending one of our many educational programs, visitors will deepen their affection for the natural world. Learn a new skill or enjoy a unique activity with friends and family.  

Check out the events calendar

Garden to Glass 

Garden to Glass classes are taught by rotating experts and includes two drinks attendees make themselves, a short explanation of how the featured drink is made and its history, and a goodie bag featuring a Powell Gardens branded glass, ingredients for a future drink, or other fun items.  

This is the perfect opportunity to brush up on your beverage skills while learning how the botanical world influences what we consume. Previous classes featured beverages like Applejack, Cider, Tom Collins, and Prickly Pear Mojito. 

 Horticulture Happy Hours 

In these laid-back, hourlong classes, attendees will see a horticulture demonstration or presentation then enjoy a tour of Powell Gardens’ spaces as related to the subject matter. Attendees are served beer and wine and may receive a take-home item like a bulb, cutting, or tool.  

In 2023, Powell Gardens introduced a Horticulture Happy Hour centered around orchids, which coincided with the spring exhibition Orchid Delirium. Participants learned about the history of orchid cultivation and enjoyed a guided tour of the Orchid Delirium exhibit.  

Workshops 

Workshops allow participants to develop new skills or deepen their knowledge related to plants, nature, and the great outdoors. Popular 2023 workshops included the Native Prairie Series, where participants visited and learned more about Ona’s Prairie (a Conservation Opportunity Area managed by Powell Gardens horticulture staff), Container Workshops, and Terrarium Workshops.  

In addition to adult-centered classes, Powell Gardens offers youth programming including K-5 guided programs and self-guided school visits. These programs fill up fast and must be booked in advance on the Powell Gardens website.  

Get Involved Today! 

Interested in learning more about Powell Gardens? Check out powellgardens.org for Conservation Insights, monthly blog posts, events, and classes. Make sure to follow @powellgardens on social media and subscribe to our bi-weekly emails for up-to-date information on Powell Gardens, Kansas City’s botanical garden.