Experience spring as it is meant to be enjoyed at the Cleveland Botanical Garden. Immerse yourself in blooming gardens, welcome the return of butterflies in the Eleanor Armstrong Smith Glasshouse, attend popular events like the annual Spring Egg Hunt and more. The Botanical Garden hours are Tuesdays – Saturdays 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sundays noon – 5 p.m. For classes, special events and ticket details, go to holdenfg.org.
RETURN OF THE BUTTERFLIES
Beginning Wednesday, April 1, a fan favorite returns with a burst of color: Return of the Butterflies at the Cleveland Botanical Garden. Step into the Costa Rica biome and surround yourself with hundreds of newly emerged tropical butterflies. Watch as they flutter through the glasshouse, sip nectar from vibrant blooms, and bring the entire space to life with motion and color. New this year, visitors can now partake in twice-daily butterfly releases at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday. Releases on Sunday will be at 2 p.m. only. Included with general admission. Registration not required.
TULIP TIME IN THE ALLEE
This spring, guests can step into a touch of the Netherlands as thousands of vibrant tulips transform the Allee into a Dutch-inspired landscape. Beginning April 7, the tulip display will feature charming mini windmills and thoughtfully fabricated Dutch-inspired elements woven throughout the beds, creating a colorful celebration of the season. Interpretive signage will share how tulips brave winter’s chill to become one of spring’s earliest and most beloved blooms. During Tons of Tulips (April 10–11 and 17–18), families can dive deeper into the story of these resilient flowers and even create a tulip painting to welcome the season in the Hershey Children’s Garden.
SPRING EVENTS AND EXPERIENCES
SHELL-ABRATION: TORTOISES TURN 50
Two of the Botanical Garden’s beloved tortoises will celebrate a remarkable milestone, turning 50 years old. The golden birthday festivities culminate in a special party on Saturday, May 30, with family-friendly programming offered on weekends throughout May leading up to the big day. Guests can join a self-guided scavenger hunt, create tortoise- and turtle-themed crafts, and purchase limited-edition 50th anniversary merchandise. The celebration will also feature interactive Creature Feature experiences, including a special “spa day” enrichment for the tortoises and a festive birthday cake honoring five decades of these extraordinary residents inspiring conservation and curiosity.
FREE ADMISSION DAY, Friday, April 24 – ARBOR DAY 2026
Celebrate trees with us on Friday, April 24, during the Arbor Day Community Day. Enjoy free admission to the Cleveland Botanical Garden from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., a tree seedling giveaway while supplies last, and a community resource fair. More information coming soon.
Opening in May, a new experience invites guests to awaken their senses and dive into our plant collections like never before. Explore immersive activities woven throughout our indoor and outdoor gardens—each designed to spark wonder through sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell. More information to come, check holdenfg.org for details.
Photo Courtesy Holden Forests & Gardens
