Iowa Arboretum & Gardens

Trick or Treat in Treehouse Village
2025-10-26 13:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Iowa Arboretum & Gardens, 1875 Peach Avenue, MADRID, IA, 50156
Costumed revelers of all ages and abilities travel the paved accessible trail at Treehouse Village collecting treats along the way! Halloween Scavenger Hunt, coloring contest, and more. Family friendly fun!
Included with regualr admission or discounted Museums for All admissions (with SNAP/EBT/WIC card + Photo ID). Members are always FREE! No extra charge for activities or trick or treating.

Family Funday Sunday!
2025-10-26 10:00 - 12:00
Join us for some learning and exploration fun! The topic for Sunday, October 26, 2025 is Spooky Science, where we’ll discover all sorts of interesting science facts that some people think are spooky! 10am-12noon, open house style. Activities are free with paid admission. Members are always free! AFTERWARDS, JOIN US FOR THE TRICK OR TREAT AT TREEHOUSE VILLAGE!

Pressed Flower Art Workshop
2025-10-12 13:00 - 15:00
Pressed Flower Art Workshop – Sunday, August 24, 2025 from 1:00pm-3:00pm RESERVE YOUR SPOT
Participants choose from a range of flowers and leaves picked, pressed right here at the arboretum and ready for your personalized creation!
Use chosen flowers to make: Designed & laminated bookmark, Styled arrangement on cardstock, Craft a frame for your creation, Bring your own frame from home (recommended sizes 5×7 or 8×10). We will also have a small supply of glass frames available for purchase at the workshop.
There are so many ways to use pressed flowers to create art, so come join us! Workshop space is limited!

Family Funday Sunday!
2025-10-12 10:00 - 12:00
Join us for some learning and exploration fun! The topic for Sunday, October 12, 2025 is Water Study, where we’ll discover all sorts of interesting facts about water and sources of water all around and near the Iowa Arboretum. 10am-12noon, open house style. Activities are free with paid admission. Members are always free!

B Inspired 5K Run/Walk
2025-10-11 09:00 - 11:00
B Inspired and get out into the woodlands, prairies and gardens of the Iowa Arboretum & Gardens for some good exercise in the Boone County fresh air!REGISTER HERE!

Family Funday Sunday!
2025-09-28 10:00 - 12:00
Join us for some learning and exploration fun! The topic for Sunday, September 28, 2025 is Paper Crafts, where we’ll discover all sorts of ways to create interesting crafts using paper.10am-12noon, open house style. Activities are free with paid admission. Members are always free!

Treehouses at Twilight - Harvest Hootenanny
2025-09-25 18:00 - 21:00
Join us for Treehouses at Twilight – Harvest Hootenanny on Thursday, September 25, 2025 from 6pm-9pm. This is an event where the adults can be a kid again in Treehouses, at an elevated play area, and along the woodland trails. Each ticket includes 21+ admission, one featured drink ticket, adult snacks and beverages, musical entertainment by local artist Day’s Live Music, themed photo booth and more! Discounts for Couples and Members!
GET TICKETS HERE

Family Funday Sunday!
2025-09-14 10:00 - 12:00
Join us for some learning and exploration fun! The topic for Sunday, September 14, 2025 is Animal Study, where we’ll discover all sorts of interesting facts about the critters that call the Iowa Arboretum home. 10am-12noon, open house style. Activities are free with paid admission. Members are always free!

PAWS IN THE PARK Run/Walk
2025-09-13 07:00 - 09:30
Run or walk for a “Good Paws ” with or without a canine friend! 5K Run/ walk starts and finishes at the beautiful Iowa Arboretum & Gardens.
7:00 am -8:00am Registration – T-shirt/ Packet Pickup at Beckwith Grand Pavilion at the Iowa Arboretum. Upon registration you will be free to begin the course and keep your own time.
Dog Information
Dogs will get bandanas and goody bags.
Maximum 2 dogs per person and must be up to date on all vaccinations.

Tunes in the Trees - September 9, 2025
2025-09-09 17:00 - 20:00
Join us in the gardens for a family friendly outdoor concert event with the WEARY RAMBLERS. FOOD TRUCKS: local fare from Brick & Ember Pizza and V & B Farms Ice Cream. Bring a lawn chair, picnic blanket, the kids and the family dog – all are welcome at this summertime favorite!
CONCERT ADMISSION: $10 for non-members age 13 and older; $5 for members age 13 and older; children age 12 and under FREE!
NEW IN 2025: $5 gets non-members some Treehouse Playtime from 5pm-6pm before the music starts (Iowa Arboretum Members FREE)!

Treehouses at Twilight - Western Whimsy
2025-08-28 18:00 - 21:00
Join us for Treehouses at Twilight – Western Whimsy on August 28, 2025 from 6pm-9pm. This is an event where the adults can be a kid again in Treehouses, at an elevated play area, and along the woodland trails. Each ticket includes 21+ admission, one featured drink ticket, adult snacks and beverages, musical entertainment by local singer/songwriter Jordan Messerole, themed photo booth and more! Discounts for Couples and Members!
GET TICKETS HERE

Pressed Flower Art Workshop
2025-08-24 13:00 - 15:00
Pressed Flower Art Workshop – Sunday, August 24, 2025 from 1:00pm-3:00pm GET TICKETS
Participants choose from a range of flowers and leaves picked, pressed right here at the arboretum and ready for your personalized creation!
Use chosen flowers to make: Designed & laminated bookmark, Styled arrangement on cardstock, Craft a frame for your creation, Bring your own frame from home (recommended sizes 5×7 or 8×10). We will also have a small supply of glass frames available for purchase at the workshop.
There are so many ways to use pressed flowers to create art, so come join us! Workshop space is limited!

Family Funday Sunday!
2025-08-24 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-08-10 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-07-27 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-07-13 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-06-29 10:00 - 12:00
Family friendly activities designed to help you explore and learn together about nature and the outdoors! Included with admission – Members are always free! 10am-12noon No registration necessary!

Kids Climb Tree Climbing Event
2025-08-17 13:00 - 15:00
Sunday August 17, 2025 – Join us from 1:00pm-3:00pm for safe tree climbing with the Iowa Arborist Association! All equipment (helmet, harness, etc.) is provided. FREE with paid admission. Members are always FREE!

Tunes in the Trees - August 12, 2025
2025-08-12 17:00 - 20:00
Join us in the gardens for a family friendly outdoor concert event with Carter Guse. FOOD TRUCKS: local fare from Comfort Food Catering and V & B Farms Ice Cream. Bring a lawn chair, picnic blanket, the kids and the family dog – all are welcome at this summertime favorite!
CONCERT ADMISSION: $10 for non-members age 13 and older; $5 for members age 13 and older; children age 12 and under FREE!
NEW IN 2025: $5 gets non-members some Treehouse Playtime from 5pm-6pm before the music starts (Iowa Arboretum Members FREE)!

Iowa Arboretum & Gardens Trial Program Public Evaluation Day
2025-08-09 10:00 - 16:00
YOU ARE INVITED!
Join the Iowa Arboretum & Gardens Trial Program for their second Public Evaluation Day! You and up to one adult guest and two children are invited to participate in evaluating perennials and shrubs in the trial garden. Walk the garden to check out soon to be available varieties and let us know your favorites! Evaluation generally takes around 25-30 minutes; you are then welcome to walk the grounds on the West Side of the arboretum for free.
Background: Due to a lack of regionally specific research, demonstration, and outreach surrounding newly introduced ornamental plants for Central Iowa, the Iowa Arboretum & Gardens established an ornamental trial garden for the categories of herbaceous perennials and shrubs in the Spring of 2023. This public-facing trial garden provides beauty, education, and outreach to the people of Iowa in a form viewable to the public, allowing for year-round visibility and observation of these plants. The Public Evaluation Day helps us in several ways. First, we get to hear from you, the consumer, about what plants you want in your garden. Second, we expose the Central Iowa public to the breadth of plants that are available to you while testing their long-term performance. Help us help you garden better!
Details: By participating in the Public Evaluation Day, you and up to one adult guest and two children get free admission to the West Side of the Iowa Arboretum & Gardens. Entry into Treehouse Village and the East Side of the grounds will require admission or membership to the Iowa Arboretum & Gardens (see front desk upon visit). A short program will begin at 11am and again at 2pm.
*Golf cart service is available for persons needing assistance
Please RSVP for you and your guest(s) by July 20th below:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A44A5AD28ABFEC25-55183929-trial
Learn more about the program:
https://iowaarboretum.org/ourplants/trialprogram/

OPEN LATE until 8!
2025-07-29 16:00 - 20:00
TUESDAY JULY 29, 2025 – Join us after 4pm for playtime until 8pm! Extended hours at the regular admission rate. Museums for All discounted admission for up to 4 total in a family – must show SNAP/EBT/WIC card plus Photo ID). Arboretum members are always FREE!

Treehouses at Twilight - Supper Club
2025-07-24 18:00 - 21:00
Join us for Treehouses at Twilight – Supper Club on Thursday, July 24, 2025 from 6pm-9pm. JULY 24 EVENT INFORMATION: This is a rain or shine event – we will move indoors if needed, due to rain or storms. There is a bug soother repellent dispenser at the Treehouse Village if bugs are an issue. Feel free to bring your own bug repellent if you desire to do so!
This is an event where the adults can be a kid again in Treehouses, at an elevated play area, and along the woodland trails. Each ticket includes 21+ admission, one featured drink ticket, adult snacks and beverages, musical entertainment by local group The Weary Ramblers, themed photo booth and more! Discounts for Couples and Members!
GET TICKETS HERE

OPEN LATE until 8!
2025-07-22 16:00 - 20:00
TUESDAY JULY 22, 2025 – Join us after 4pm for playtime until 8pm! Extended hours at the regular admission rate. Museums for All discounted admission for up to 4 total in a family – must show SNAP/EBT/WIC card plus Photo ID). Arboretum members are always FREE!

Tunes in the Trees - July 8, 2025
2025-07-08 17:00 - 20:00
Join us in the gardens for a family friendly outdoor concert event with BUCKMILLER SCHWAGER BAND. FOOD TRUCKS: local comfort fare from Kaaswagen and V & B Farms Ice Cream. Bring a lawn chair, picnic blanket, the kids and the family dog – all are welcome at this summertime favorite!
CONCERT ADMISSION: $10 for non-members age 13 and older; $5 for members age 13 and older; children age 12 and under FREE!
NEW IN 2025: $5 gets non-members some Treehouse Playtime from 5pm-6pm before the music starts (Iowa Arboretum Members FREE)!

Tunes in the Trees - June 10, 2025
2025-06-10 17:00 - 20:00
Join us in the gardens for a family friendly outdoor concert event with OPUS TAYLOR BAND. FOOD TRUCKS: local fare from Smokin’ Big Dawg’s BBQ and V & B Farms Ice Cream. Bring a lawn chair, picnic blanket, the kids and the family dog – all are welcome at this summertime favorite!
CONCERT ADMISSION: $10 for non-members age 13 and older; Members FREE; children 12 and under FREE!
NEW IN 2025: $5 gets non-members some Treehouse Playtime from 5pm-6pm before the music starts (Iowa Arboretum Members FREE)!

Classic Car Show
2025-06-08 11:00 - 14:00
Our Annual Classic Car Show will take place on Sunday, June 8, 2025. This popular event is open to the public. All classic cars are welcomed. Food Trucks will be available and admission to the Car Show is FREE. Participants showing a car will be asked to arrive anytime after 10am to park and complete the info card to place on their dash. 2024 was our biggest show yet with over 80 participating cars! Interested in being a sponsor for this event? Reach out to info@iowaarboretum.org for more information on how your business can be featured.

2025 Garden Social & Auction
2025-05-17 16:30 - 21:00
We hope you will join us for our biggest fundraiser of the year – the Garden Social & Auction – Saturday, May 17, 2025 – 4:00-9pm
GET TICKETS HERE
Each Ticket includes:

Leisurely walking tour of the Arboretum & the Adele & Dean Bowden Treehouse Village
Cocktail Hour with snacks, beverages and musical entertainment
Delicious catered meal from Christiani’s VIP of Des Moines and dessert
Silent and Live Auctions with items for your home, garden and entertainment
50/50 Raffle with a cash prize

Annual Plant Sale!
2025-05-01 12:00 - 2025-05-03 16:00
Thursday, May 1, 2025 (Members Only) from 12noon – 4pm ~ Friday & Saturday, May 2-3, 2025 (Public Welcome) from 9am – 4pm
Join the Iowa Arboretum & Gardens for our annual Spring Plant Sale! Hundreds of perennial varieties will be available from plants for dry shade, to native selections, to classic favorites! Follow this event and our socials to get a closer look at some of the plants we’ll be offering for sale.
DETAILS:MEMBER ONLY early access will be May 1st from noon – 4pm.The general public is invited to shop from May 2nd to May 3rd. We will open the sale at 9am and close at 4pm both days.Please park at the Cafferty Building parking lot (follow the signs labelled ‘Plant Sale’ with arrows).

PLEASE NOTE: Admission onto the Arboretum grounds is not included when attending the plant sale – Entrance fees apply. Proof of membership, proof of reciprocal admission, or general admission purchase required to explore grounds, including the Adele and Dean Bowden Treehouse Village. Please reserve your timed admission spot here: https://iowaarboretum.org/visit/

Arbor Day Celebration!
2025-04-26 09:00 - 12:00
Our Annual Arbor Day Celebration will be Saturday April 26th from 9am-12noon. 2025 HIGHLIGHTS: Kids Climb! Kids of all ages will be assisted by arborists to climb arboretum trees! Create and add your poem to our popular POETREE! Build a tree branch shelter in Treehouse Village! Make a tree cookie medallion… and so much more. All activities are FREE WITH ADMISSION. Members are always FREE! Mark your calendar – you won’t want to miss this!

RUN for the TREES
2025-04-26 08:00 - 09:30
Join the Iowa Arboretum & Gardens for a scenic 5K or 1 mile Family Run/Walk on well maintained trails around our campus and through the new Treehouse Village. All run/walk participants will receive a tree seedling at the end of the race. In addition to hosting the run/walk, we will also be having Arbor Day activities – including a KIDS CLIMB EVENT facilitated by the Iowa Arborists Association until 12noon. Run/Walk registration includes a t-shirt, race bib, swag bag, snacks and a tree seedling! **Participants must be registered by April 4th at noon to be guaranteed an official event t-shirt. Only paid registrants receive a shirt.** PACKET PICK UP: will be April 25th 9am – 4pm and April 26th from 8am – 9am at the Iowa Arboretum & Gardens. REGISTER HERE
