Mt Cuba Center
Morning sunrise illuminates the round garden at Mt. Cuba Center.
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HOURS

Gardens and trails are open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 am-6 pm. Plan your visit today!

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Program Guide

Classes offered year-round. Learn to garden in harmony with nature, take an art or wellness class, and more!

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Trial Garden

Mt. Cuba Center evaluates native plants and related cultivars for horticultural and ecological value.

Mt. Cuba Center's natural lands pictured at sunset.
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Ecological Land Management

Mt. Cuba conserves and stewards more than 1,000 acres including meadows, forests, streams and riparian corridors.

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Mt Cuba Center
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September 23 @ 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

Event

Canceled: Tree Festival

  • This event has passed.

This program is canceled as of 9/21/23 due to rain in the forecast.

See trees in their autumn glory and learn how they add beauty and value to our landscapes. Enjoy unique family-friendly programs, live music, hayrides, and more. Food and drinks available for purchase. Native plants are available for purchase while supplies last.
(Rain Date: Sunday, September 24)

Scheduled Activities

1. Upper Lawn

2. Terrace

  • Welcome Walks: 11am, 1pm, 3pm
    Each walk is free with admission and lasts about one hour. Capacity is limited, so please sign up ahead of time at the plant sales tent.
  • If These Trees Could Talk Tour: 2:30pm
    Join our Arborists for a behind-the-scenes look at the legacies of Mt. Cuba’s trees.

3. Main Lawn

  • Kids Tree Climbing: 11am-1pm, 2-4pm
    Pull on a harness and get ready to climb! Scale a tree with the help of our arborists and get a birds-eye view of tree work.

4. South Garden

  • Story Time Sprouts: 11:30am, 2pm
    Relax on our South Lawn while you listen to a selection of nature-themed books about fall.

5. Natural Lands

  • Hayrides: 11am, 2pm, 3pm
    Celebrate the season with a 25-minute scenic hayride through our natural areas. Free with admission, reserve your time at the plant sales tent as space is limited. 

    Mt. Cuba Center Tree Festival 2023 program map.Download Event Map

All-Day Activities

6. Upper Lawn

  • Forest Elders
    Old growth forests are essential to healthy environments. Learn about their ecological importance and their enduring mystique.
  • The Sweet Smell of Trees
    Engage your senses with the fragrances of wood chips from different species of native trees.
  • The Art of Woodburning
    Browse a selection of art for sale and participate in the process of woodburning.
  • Custom Wooden Bench Raffle
    Enter our free raffle to win a sourwood bench! You need not be present to win.
  • Bluey’s Woods
    Venture into the woods and get your hands dirty with nature play activities. Pick up a fall-themed scavenger hunt to follow as you explore the gardens.
  • Octoraro Native Plant Nursery
    Learn the ins and outs of plant propagation with Octoraro Nursery.

7. Woods Path

  • Storybook Stroll
    Wind along the Woods Path as you read along to The Boy Who Grew a Forest.

8. Ticketing

  • Membership
    Membership is natural nourishment. Sign up today!
  • Plant Sales
    A variety of native plants will be available for purchase, while supplies last!

9. Food & Beverage

  • Mojo Loco: 11am-5pm
    Delicious tacos, street corn, and more!

Tree Festival takes place at Mt. Cuba Center on Saturday, September 23, 2023 (Rain Date: Sunday, September 24).

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