SEASONAL FESTIVALS & PLANT SALES
FALL 5K & FESTIVAL
Join us on Saturday, October 31st for our Fall 5K & Festival! The race will start at 8:30 AM, and festival activities will begin at 10 AM. Race proceeds benefit FONA’s work at the National Arboretum. You don’t have to participate in the race to also enjoy the festival, although we hope you’ll join us for both!
Come celebrate fall with us and enjoy:
- Beautiful fall foliage throughout 451 acres of gardens, rolling hills, and streams
- Running or walking a secure race course closed to all cars
- A commemorative pint glass award for the first place 5K finishers
- Getting in the Halloween spirit with a “Thriller” dance party, Halloween costume contest, and trick-or-treat stations
- Autumnal family activities & lawn games
- Purchasing ornamental and edible bulbs for your garden
- Offerings from local food trucks
Photo by A2Z Photography
50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION:
NATIONAL BONSAI & PENJING MUSEUM
Celebrate this momentous milestone in the history of the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum! Join us on Saturday, November 7th from 10 AM to 4 PM for a day full of festivities, including museum tours, family activities, and a science cafe.
More information is coming soon! Please add your name to this email list and FONA will share details with you as soon as information is available.
HOLIDAY MARKET & TREE SALE
Get in the holiday spirit at the National Arboretum! FONA’s Holiday Market returns this year on Saturday, December 5th from 10 AM to 2 PM. Find the perfect gift from local artisans, enjoy delicious bites from food trucks, and buy festive holiday greenery.
Shop for holiday trees and other greenery while supporting a great cause at FONA’s Holiday Tree Sale. This year’s tree sale will take place during the following times:
- Friday, Nov. 27 – Sunday, Nov. 29: 11 AM – 5 PM
- Monday, Nov. 30 – Friday, Dec. 4: 2 PM – 7 PM
- Saturday, Dec. 5 – Sunday, Dec. 6: 11 AM – 5 PM
More information is coming soon! Sign up for our FONA Field Notes e-newsletter to learn about this and other events.
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, wildlife, 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. These events are held in conjunction with each other in late March. Information for the 2027 events will be announced in early 2027.
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 2027.
BECOME A VENDOR
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 18,000 engaged followers across Instagram and Facebook and reaches 17,500+ 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 October), Summer Evening Hours (June through August), Dinner Under the Stars (September), Fall Festival (October), and Holiday Market & 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.
