9:00am-12:00pm

Stream Restoration Talk | Stream Benches
Join Dan Frisbee and Ty Smith for an engaging look at the Garden and the City of Charlottesville’s stream restoration project, including insights into its need, goals, and impact.

9:00am-12:00pm

Explore to Read | Begins at the Crooked Cherry
Explore the Garden trails while discovering enlarged storybook pages.

9:00am-9:15am

Green Grannies Performance | Amphitheater
Enjoy a lively and lighthearted performance by the Green Grannies at the Mini Amphitheater! With humor, music, and a touch of playful wisdom, they inspire audiences of all ages to think about simple, meaningful ways to care for our planet and protect the species we share it with.

9:15am-9:25pm

Bird Calls | Bluebird Trail
Join the Garden’s resident birding expert, David White, for an engaging demonstration of a variety of bird calls and learn how to recognize the sounds of local birds.

9:15am-9:25am

Caring For Trees | Table Near the Sassafras Tree
The Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards will instruct and provide insights on caring for local tree species, sharing practical tips and expert knowledge for keeping our urban forest healthy

9:30am-10:15am

Lightning Talk Round 1 | Amphitheater
Bird Presentation – Piedmont Valley Bird Club & the Garden’s resident birder David White
Bee City – Albemarle Garden Club, Charlottesville Garden Club, and Rivanna Garden Club
Every Native Plant Counts – with Nancy Cohen
iNaturalist Citizen Science – with BGP Landscape Manager, Bridget Curran
Light Pollution – Dark Skies Piedmont
Climate Advocacy – Citizen Climate Lobby
Invasives- Charlottesville Parks and Rec

10:00am-12:00pm

Garden Craft Table | Garden Sheds
Create a craft to bring home and enjoy. 

10:15am-10:25am

iNaturalist Demo | Labyrinth Benches 
Discover the power of iNaturalist with BGP Landscape Manager Bridget, who will demonstrate how to identify and document plants and wildlife using this popular app. Learn how your observations can contribute to cataloging the Garden while deepening your connection to the natural world.

10:30am-10:40am

Get Outside & Explore: Nature Tools for Curious Kids | Lower Meadow
Discover fun, hands-on tools for engaging kids in multisensory environmental learning. This interactive session will inspire you to turn any backyard or neighborhood walk into an exciting nature adventure.

10:30am-11:00am

Tree Planting with ReLeaf Cville | Stream Corridor
Celebrate spring at the Festival with ReLeaf Cville! Members of ReLeaf Cville’s Green Team will lead a live tree planting demonstration, sharing tips and insights on caring for our local trees.

10:45am-10:55am

Toy Sustainability | Labyrinth Benches
Discover how to make your toys last longer—and go further for the planet! Discovery Museum shares simple, creative ways to extend the life of your toys, saving money while reducing waste.

11:00am-11:45am

Lightning Talk Round 2 | Amphitheater
Office of Sustainability – C’ville Transit – Fleet in Transition
Energy Resource Hub – Local Energy Alliance Program
Caterpillars – Rivanna Master Naturalists
Butterflies – Xerxes Society
Invasive Plants – Blue Ridge Prism
Prevent Litter – Cville Litter Pickers
Soil Quality – with Giardino Foresta
Hands-on Education – BGP Education Coordinator, Bruce Gatling-Austin

11:45am-12:00pm

Live Staking Demo | Marsh
Live staking is a simple, cost-effective way we restore streambanks—by planting dormant cuttings from native trees directly into the soil, where they take root and help stabilize and strengthen the landscape.

12:00pm-1:00pm

Music in the Garden Cville Flutes | Amphitheater
Enjoy a lively performance by Cville Flutes in the amphitheater, filling the Garden with bright, uplifting melodies.

1:00pm-2:00pm

Garden Tree Walk | Garden Tent
Join an informational Tree Walk with Steve Gaines of the Urban Forestry Department. Limited to 16.

4:00pm-5:00pm

National Water Dance | Amphitheater
Choreographer Emily Wright and Cumulus Dance will present a site-specific performance at the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont as part of National Water Dance, a nationwide movement event connecting communities through dance and environmental awareness.

Audience members are invited not only to watch but also to participate in simple guided movement activities that reflect on our relationship with water and the environment.