FONA is thrilled to host summer evening hours once again! Starting on Monday, June 8th, the National Arboretum will stay open until 8 PM every weekday through Friday, August 28th. The Arboretum will close at 5 PM on Saturdays and Sundays.

We heard how much you loved summer evening hours last year, and how impactful it was for working professionals and families to be able to relax at the Arboretum after a long day of work. Thanks to our supporters, we are able to offer evening hours again this summer for the community to enjoy. So get outside, connect with nature, and bask in beautiful summer evenings at the Arboretum — all season long!



We are grateful to Advisory Neighborhood Commission 5C, Casey Trees, and Events DC for sponsoring this year's summer evening hours. If you love spending evenings at the Arboretum, please make a donation to support this and other FONA programs.

EVENING HOURS SCHEDULE (JUNE 8TH - AUGUST 28TH)

Monday - Friday: Extended hours

• Grounds are open from 8 AM to 8 PM. Last admittance is at 7:30 PM.
• The New York Avenue Gate closes at 2 PM. The R Street Gate closes at 8 PM. 

Saturday - Sunday: Regular hours

• Grounds are open from 8 AM to 5 PM. Last admittance is at 4:30 PM.
• The New York Avenue Gate closes at 4:30 PM. The R Street Gate closes at 5 PM.

Facilities: Regular hours apply daily

• The National Bonsai & Penjing Museum is open from 10 AM to 4 PM daily. 
• The Visitor Center is open from 8 AM to 4:30 PM daily. 
• Access restrooms and water after 4:30 PM at Arbor House, the Grove Parking Lot, or the Asian Collections Parking Lot.

Nothing says summer like outdoor concerts! Join us for a Music in the Meadow Concert on June 5th at 7 PM featuring an exhilarating go-go performance by Scooby DaGodSon and Sirius Company. 

The performance will take place in the Arboretum’s Ellipse Meadow, the perfect spot to watch the sweet light of sunset filter through the Capitol Columns. Gates will open at 5:30 PM, so get there early to wander through the National Herb Garden and visit the columns before the concert begins. Don’t miss this chance to watch an award-winning band play at one of the most unique live music venues in the DMV.

Adult tickets cost $25, with a limited number of $15 community access tickets available. Admission is free for children under 12. All tickets must be purchased in advance. 

This project is supported in part by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Purchase Concert Tickets >

Discover the Japanese botanical art of kusamono during this three-day weekend event from June 19th to 21st. Observe how wild grasses, wildflowers, and other small native plants may be artistically arranged to suggest miniature representations of natural habitats. Often displayed alongside bonsai as an accent, kusamono stands on its own as a complete expression, emphasizing simplicity, seasonality, and a sense of place. Come see the exhibit and watch free demonstrations every day in the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum’s Exhibits Gallery. Buy kusamono plants, soil, and ceramics from vendors on the East Terrace.

On Saturday, June 20th from 10:30 AM to 12 PM, esteemed kusamono artist Young Choe will deliver a free lecture and demonstration in the Visitor Center auditorium. On Sunday, June 21st from 1 PM to 3 PM, Choe will offer a fee-based workshop ($100), in which participants will learn how to create kusamono to take home and enjoy!

Register for the Workshop >

Honor life’s most treasured moments and loved ones by donating a tribute bench at the National Arboretum. Each teak bench has space for a plaque engraved with a custom message for a special occasion or person in your life. Benches will remain for 15 years, standing steadfast as the seasons change and years go by. Tribute benches are placed all around the Arboretum, providing a spot to rest and observe the natural world. Your donation of a tribute bench is tax deductible and directly supports mission-critical work at FONA and the Arboretum. 

Learn More >

Have you checked out the beautiful new mural in the Washington Youth Garden? This mural is the culmination of many weeks of dreaming, planning, and painting by last summer’s participants of FONA’s Green Ambassador Program (GAP). Green Ambassadors are paid summer interns from D.C. high schools who spend six weeks in the Washington Youth Garden learning hands-on skills like gardening, cooking, and carpentry. 

“Since the garden is a youth centered space, we really wanted more art in the garden to make it welcoming,” explained Program Manager Mariyah Whitley. “We decided a mural would be a perfect project for our Green Ambassadors to take on.” FONA’s garden team brought in local D.C. artist Trap Bob to facilitate a visioning session for GAP participants, in which they brainstormed themes to convey through the mural like education, nature, and community. The students were inspired by the landscape around them, and added illustrations of the Capitol Columns, the many trees at the Arboretum, and the delicious veggies they grew in the garden. “I was really proud to see how they were collaborating and fusing everyone’s ideas into one big picture,” said Mariyah. 

See our calendar for a list of all of our upcoming events and programs. FONA members get member perks like discounts and early access to registration. Donate any amount to become a FONA member!