Summer at the Missouri Botanical Garden sees the return of popular festivals, vibrant flowers, and new opportunities to learn about plants, pollinators, and conservation of the natural world.
Come and explore our new exhibition on scent, immerse yourself in Japanese culture, search for fireflies, and enjoy the return of a beloved concert series in 2025.
1. Learn how plants help make perfume
Smelling the Bouquet: Plants & Scents in the Garden
Stephen and Peter Sachs Museum
Now–March 31, 2026 | 11:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Learn about the importance of scent in the botanical world and how plants create our favorite smells through the new interactive exhibition, Smelling the Bouquet: Plants & Scents in the Garden at the Stephen and Peter Sachs Museum.
Smelling the Bouquet explores the spectrum of scents plants create, inspired by the diverse live and scientific collections at the Garden. The Garden’s outdoors offer renowned fragrant plants that have been a part of human culture for millennia, such as roses, jasmine, and water lilies.
The highlight of the exhibition is the opportunity to sniff over two dozen scents, including several interpretive fragrances of the Garden’s live plants and botanical compounds renowned for use in perfumery.
Explore the exhibition even more: To explore additional content related to the plants and scents exhibition, a series of three Sniff ‘n Learn dates will offer open educational engagement by different experts on select Saturdays through Summer 2025 at the Sachs Museum.
The exhibition is included in admission to the Missouri Botanical Garden Garden. The museum is located in the Victorian District of the Garden.
2. Cool off In the Children’s Garden
Doris I. Schnuck Children’s Garden
Open daily until 4 p.m. | Included in Garden admission Thursday nights until 7 p.m.
The splash pads in the Doris I. Schnuck Children’s Garden are the perfect place to cool down in the summer. The splash pads are included in admission to the Children’s Garden and are open through Labor Day Weekend.
Kids and their accompanying adults can also cool off while they explore the shaded pathways of the Children’s Garden, hands-on water activities like the Locks and Dams area, or cool off inside the Brookings Exploration Center.
3. enjoy the sounds of summer with the return of this outdoor concert series
Wildflower Concert Series
Shaw Nature Reserve
June 27, July 25, and August 22 | 5–8 p.m.
Shaw Nature Reserve will be hosting a series of free, outdoor concerts this summer to celebrate its centennial year.
After being on hiatus since 2019, the Wildflower Concert Series makes its return to the Nature Reserve this summer, offering three nights of performances by local artists surrounded by Missouri’s beautiful outdoors.
Riley Holtz
June 27
Riley Holtz’s song catalogue spans the entire history of modern American music–from 50s doo-wop to 90s R&B, Sinatra to Eminem–Riley’s setlist encompasses all genres.
Nick Pence and Friends
July 25
Nick Pence and Friends prides itself on filtering obscure songs from the 20s and 30s while bending, blending, and defending the lines between traditional American music to bring a sound that is both fresh and familiar.
Beth Bombara
August 22
Beth Bombara is a local singer-songwriter whose Americana Folk Rock album “It All Goes Up” features songwriting first and foremost with a voice that connects on a raw, emotional level.
4. Immerse Yourself in Japanese Culture
Japanese Festival
Across the Garden
August 30–31 | 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
September 1 | 9 a.m.–5 p.m. (last entry at 4:30 p.m.)
The popular Japanese Festival returns to the Garden on Labor Day Weekend. The three-day event highlights the history and culture of Japan and St. Louis’ Japanese-American community with performances, food, art, and much more.
The festival is a collaboration between the Garden and Japanese Activities Committee, a coalition of several Japanese-American organizations that help bring performers and artists from Japan each year. Crowd favorites include the sumo wrestlers, taiko drummers, dancers, kimono fashion shows, and a showcase of some of St. Louis’ favorite sushi, yakitori, and ramen restaurants.
5. Be a Bug scientist
Firefly and Friends Festival
Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House
June 27 | 6:30–9:30 p.m.
The Butterfly House is celebrating the beloved bugs of summer including dragonflies, cicadas, and fireflies at the Firefly and Friends Festival.
The evening will be filled with live music, fun activities, and hands-on exploration as you learn about the summer bugs. Guests can also explore the Tropical Conservatory in the evening and learn about the exotic “living lanterns” that call it home.
6. Celebrate Garden Glow in July
Jingle in July
Around the Garden
July 24 | 5–8 p.m.
Even Santa needs a summer vacation, and one of his favorite places to visit is the Missouri Botanical Garden during Jingle in July.
Get your photo with the big man himself, meet the Ice Queen, and enjoy other holiday activities during extended evening hours at the Garden. The event is included in admission.
Be the first to plan your Garden Glow visit when tickets go on sale the same day – July 24.
7. Enjoy shaded trails and summer blooms
Did you know that green spaces like botanical gardens can help cool cities during heat waves? Summer is a great time to explore the more shaded paths and really appreciate just how much our tree canopy impacts the temperature.
English Woodland Garden
You’ll notice the definite temperature drop when entering the English Woodland Garden. The shady forest offers many hidden paths and treasures to explore.
Rus Goddard River Trail
Explore the quiet woodlands and forests along the Meramec River. This Shaw Nature Reserve trail offers moderately challenging climbs and scenic rewards.
The climatron®
Believe it or not the tropical temperature of the Climatron® is actually cooler than some St. Louis summers, in part thanks to the tree canopy growing overhead.
Jessika Eidson | Public Information Officer
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