EVENTS & PROGRAMS
FEATURED EVENTS
Spring Cocktails in the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum
Friday, April 25th: 6 PM – 8:30 PM
What’s more magical than an evening spent sipping cocktails with friends in the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum? Join FONA’s Board of Directors for a special reception among the bonsai. Come enjoy light bites and delicious drinks in this one-of-a-kind collection.
This fundraising event is a great way to support the work of FONA and the U.S. National Arboretum. As its primary private partner, FONA provides public services like hosting community events and managing educational programs so the Arboretum can focus on its scientific research mission.
Garden Fair & Plant Sale
Saturday, April 26th: 9 AM – 4 PM
Celebrate spring at the National Arboretum! Shop from thousands of plants, get expert gardening advice, browse from 25+ local vendors, and enjoy free family activities.
The Plant Sale tent has something for everyone! Whether you want to grow herbs on your apartment patio or want to outfit your yard with unique shade-loving perennials, the Plant Sale has great options at great prices. FONA members get early access to the Plant Sale tent from 9 AM to 11 AM.
Extended Evening Hours
May 9, May 30, June 20: 5 PM – 8 PM
Enjoy extended evening hours at the National Arboretum this spring! The Arboretum will stay open to the public until 8 PM on select Fridays.
This is free for all to enjoy! These extended hours are made possible by FONA and the Capitol Hill Community Foundation.
WASHINGTON YOUTH GARDEN
Washington Youth Garden (WYG) is a one-acre education garden at the National Arboretum and is a destination for garden-based education and nature play. It was originally established in 1971 to teach local elementary students horticulture and life skills.
Today, Washington Youth Garden is a welcoming and inviting place for the DC community to learn and grow together. WYG’s sensory garden, innovative growing techniques, and nature-explore classroom encourage visitors of all ages to engage with agriculture, farming, and environmental education. Thousands of pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables are grown in WYG each year, all of which are distributed to students and families in the DC community to fight food insecurity.
Visit the Garden
The garden is open to all Arboretum visitors and has parking nearby. Please follow our three garden agreements during your visit:
- Stay on the path
- Pick with permission
- Respect all living things
Garden Events
We host many events open to the public throughout the year, such as School Garden Maintenance mornings, weekend Family Days, and our fall Garlic Planting Party. See our calendar for upcoming events in Washington Youth Garden.
Get Involved
Individual, group, and youth volunteers provide crucial help with gardening tasks such as weeding, planting, mulching, and pest control from April through mid-November. You don’t need prior experience, but you must be willing to make friends with the soil and the bugs! See our garden page to learn more.
EDUCATION PROGRAMS
With a focus on serving under-resourced communities, FONA nurtures curious minds and healthy bodies by connecting youth to food, the land, and each other. Our youth education programs take place at Washington Youth Garden on the grounds of the U.S. National Arboretum and in partner schools across Washington, DC.
school garden teams from D.C. Title I schools received technical assistance & training
D.C. high school Green Ambassadors honed skills & explored potential career paths
students visited the Washington Youth Garden on a field trip
students served across all Educator Coaching Program partner schools
School Garden Support Program
The School Garden Support Program works with educators across DC to build strong, sustainable school garden programs. Our program empowers teachers to connect students to garden-based education through field trips in Washington Youth Garden, virtual classroom support, and professional development opportunities for DC educators.
Our field trips take place in Washington Youth Garden at the U.S. National Arboretum. Field trips are 90 minutes long and explore the garden and Nature Explore Classroom.
Bring garden science into your classroom or home with our Grow@Home activity kit, Virtual Farm Field Trips, and curated online learning resources.
Our professional development opportunities train teachers and school staff to make garden-based education a part of daily life in schools.
Green Ambassador Program
The Green Ambassador Program (GAP) provides year-round employment and development opportunities for DC high school students. Youth enter the program in the Farm Crew and progress to become Crew Leaders, staff, and alumni.
Participants begin GAP in the Farm Crew, a six-week paid summer internship where they learn hands-on skills such as gardening, cooking, and carpentry as well as interpersonal skills like communication and collaboration.
After participating in the Farm Crew, Green Ambassador alumni are invited to mentor incoming Farm Crew participants, deepen their knowledge through garden internships, and broaden connections through an alumni network.
VISITOR EVENTS & PROGRAMS
We host visitor events and programs throughout the year that encourage a connection to nature, science, health, and wellness. Check out our calendar below to see what’s available.
Forest Bathing
Connect with nature while exploring the grounds. During this two-hour program, our certified nature and forest therapy guide will invite you to reflect on the world around you and guide you through focused meditations. See calendar below for upcoming dates and times.
Photography Workshops
Hone your nighttime photography skills by learning through sunset and sunrise photo workshops at the National Arboretum. Learn from the experts and register for a class with Capital Photography Center.
Fitness Activities
Stay active at the Arboretum through summer yoga classes and the spring Flowering 5K and Fall 5K running races.
Interested in becoming a 5K sponsor? Check out our race sponsorship package to learn more!
Garden Fair & Plant Sale
The spring Garden Fair & Plant Sale takes place every year on the last weekend of April. Shop from thousands of plants and over 25 local gardening, lifestyle, and food vendors. You can also get advice from our expert gardeners and enjoy free family activities.
Bulb Sale & Garlic Planting Party
The annual Bulb Sale & Garlic Planting Party takes place in late September or early October. There will be edible and decorative bulbs for sale, free family-friendly art activities, garlic planting, food tastings, garden tours, vegetable harvesting, and more.
Christmas Tree Sale
Join us for the annual Christmas Tree Sale in early December. Visitors can buy Christmas trees and other holiday greenery at the Arboretum, or pre-order a tree and have it delivered to your house.
29TH ANNUAL DINNER UNDER THE STARS
Save the date for Tuesday, September 9, 2025 for FONA’s 29th annual Dinner Under the Stars! Enjoy a wonderful fall evening at the U.S. National Arboretum with colleagues, business leaders, and senior staff and officials from Capitol Hill. Enjoy cocktails and a tented dinner in view of the historic Capitol Columns, which were originally sited in the East Portico of the Capitol Building from 1828 to 1958.
Dinner Under the Stars is FONA’s most important event each year and is held on behalf of the U.S. National Arboretum. It is our primary fundraising event to support the National Arboretum’s plant research and public education mission. As its primary 501(c)(3) nonprofit partner, FONA complements the National Arboretum’s important work by funding programs and events that connect visitors with nature, inspire discovery, and appreciate the practical application of plant science and our dependence on plants.
Stay tuned — more event information is coming soon!
VIRTUAL EVENTS
In our Digging In virtual event series, we host experts to discuss exciting topics pertaining to the National Arboretum’s mission. As a FONA member, you can attend the events live and dig in with the experts.
Enduring Legacy of CCC Co. 1360
‘Ironing’ Out Phosphorus — Helping Nursery Plants Hold Their P
Delayed Value of Plant Introductions
Bald Eagles and the Anacostia Watershed
Connecting through Cocoa & Coffee
Understanding Organic Lawn Care
Want to watch “Digging In” live?
CALENDAR
Use the filter function (above) marked with this icon to narrow down the list of events. Items in black do not have links yet.