SEASONAL FESTIVALS & PLANT SALES
LAHR NATIVE PLANT SYMPOSIUM & NATIVE PLANT SALE
The National Arboretum’s Lahr Native Plant Symposium brings together expert speakers for an engaging day of presentations about native plants, pollinators, and ecosystems. FONA’s Native Plant Sale hosts a small number of native plant vendors from across the mid-Atlantic region to sell spring ephemerals and other choice perennials and woody plants.
Both of these events are held together on the same day in late March. Registration for the Lahr Symposium often opens in January.
GARDEN FAIR & PLANT SALE
Celebrate spring at the National Arboretum during FONA’s annual Garden Fair & Plant Sale! This is our largest seasonal festival and is an important fundraiser for FONA. Shop from thousands of plants, browse from dozens of local vendors, and enjoy free family activities. You can also get advice from our expert gardeners.
We will share more details about this event in early 2026. Learn how to become a vendor at this event.
GARLIC PLANTING PARTY & BULB SALE
Our annual Garlic Planting Party & Bulb Sale is a great way to celebrate fall and FONA’s community at the National Arboretum! This event takes place each year in the Washington Youth Garden on the last Saturday in October. Attendees can plant garlic, harvest sweet potatoes, try fresh sugar cane juice, and enjoy free nature-based family activities. They can also buy edible and ornamental bulbs to plant in their own gardens. We will share information about the 2026 event in the late summer or early fall of 2026.
WINTER FESTIVAL & CHRISTMAS TREE SALE
Thank you to all who joined us for our 2025 Winter Festival & Christmas Tree Sale! This important annual fundraiser supports our work at the National Arboretum. We hold this event each year in early December. We will share more information about the 2026 Winter Festival & Christmas Tree Sale in the late summer or early fall of 2026.
BECOME A VENDOR
2025 Events
FONA is accepting vendor applications for the upcoming Winter Festival on Saturday, December 6th. This event will take place near the Arboretum’s Visitor Center, and will include an artisan vendor village gift market, holiday train ride, food trucks, free family-friendly activities, Christmas tree sale, and more. If you are a local business, artisan, or food truck interested in vending at the Winter Festival, please apply today! A limited number of booths are available and space fills quickly.
2026 Events
Apply today to be a vendor at one of FONA’s 2026 seasonal festivals! Our seasonal festivals draw thousands of visitors to the National Arboretum throughout the year. Each event is unique: the Native Plant Sale connects with native plant enthusiasts; the Garden Fair & Plant Sale provides everything a gardener needs to get growing in the spring; and the Winter Festival offers holiday cheer and a gift market. Apply today if you are a local business, nursery, or food truck interested in vending at one or multiple 2026 seasonal festivals. A limited number of booths are available at each event and space fills quickly.
CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS
FONA offers many corporate sponsorship opportunities throughout the year at our community events, visitor programs, and annual Dinner Under the Stars. These events connect thousands of people from the D.C. region and beyond to nature, science, and plant stewardship at the National Arboretum. Corporate sponsors gain digital and in-person visibility leading up to and at these events. FONA has over 16,000 engaged followers across Instagram and Facebook and reaches 17,000+ subscribers through FONA Field Notes, our weekly e-newsletter.
Sponsorships are available for a variety of events of different sizes and audiences. They include but are not limited to the Garden Fair & Plant Sale (April), 5K races (March and November), Summer Evening Hours (June through August), Dinner Under the Stars (September), Garlic Planting Party & Bulb Sale (October), and Winter Festival & Christmas Tree Sale (December). Email donations@fona.org to learn more about becoming a corporate sponsor.
Photo by Josh Peterson
EVENT VOLUNTEERING
Volunteering at FONA’s events throughout the year is a great way to support our work building community at the National Arboretum. Spend a day enjoying plants and people by volunteering at our annual Garden Fair and Plant Sale, or help with other seasonal festivals, concerts, 5K races, and more. No experience is required, but we greatly appreciate when people can commit to volunteering at multiple events throughout the year. Fill out our event volunteer interest form and we will get back to you with more details.
