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Culture · Virgínia
For eight spring days, private homes, gardens and historic properties across Virginia open to the public, decorated with floral arrangements made by garden clubs; proceeds fund the restoration of the state’s historic gardens.
In the photo: Virgínia
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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Historic Garden Week in Virginia — Virgínia
For eight consecutive days, usually in the second half of April and sometimes into early May; each locality opens its houses and gardens on specific days.
April/May
Virgínia
Dates change every year: check this year's date before you travel.
The festival
Historic Garden Week, as it’s called in the original, is a springtime tradition in which the state opens houses and gardens that remain closed the rest of the year. For eight spring days, when azaleas, dogwoods, tulips and lilacs are often in bloom, visitors tour mansions, farmhouses, private gardens and historic landmarks in different regions of Virginia, presented as the largest open house event in the United States.
The week is organized by the Garden Club of Virginia, a nonprofit that brings together dozens of garden clubs across the state. The story began in 1927, when a flower show raised money to save trees planted by Thomas Jefferson at Monticello, near Charlottesville. In 1929 clubs opened the first houses and gardens; the tradition continued through the century, with interruptions during World War II and the pandemic.
Each club plans the route for its region, with a set of houses and gardens open on specific days of the week. Routes change each year and cover towns, historic neighborhoods and rural areas. In Alexandria, local clubs typically open private homes in Old Town, the 18th‑century center; in the Charlottesville area there are properties with views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. At each house, club volunteers welcome visitors and share the place’s history.
A hallmark of the week is the floral arrangements: club members prepare hundreds of them, using seasonal flowers and foliage, and distribute them throughout the rooms of the open houses. Some routes include arrangement demonstrations, talks by gardeners, music and lunches prepared by local groups.
Ticket proceeds fund the restoration and conservation of Virginia’s historic public gardens, such as the pavilions’ gardens at the University of Virginia, designed by Jefferson, in addition to landscape research fellowships. For visitors to Washington and Virginia in spring, the week is a chance to see inside houses and gardens that are usually closed to the public and to experience the state at the height of bloom.
Private homes opened only during this week, with rooms decorated by seasonal floral arrangements. Gardens at their spring peak, with azaleas, dogwoods and tulips. In Alexandria, historic houses in Old Town, a few minutes from Washington. In the Charlottesville area, rural properties with views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the gardens at Monticello. The University of Virginia pavilions’ gardens, restored with funds from the week. Floral arrangement demonstrations and conversations with volunteers who know each house’s history.
Before you travel, choose routes on the official website: each has its own day, list of houses and parking guidance, and you will almost always need a car to get from one house to another. Tickets are sold per route, in advance on the site or on the day at locations indicated by the clubs. Wear comfortable, low‑heeled shoes: some gardens have lawns and dirt paths, and some houses have old, delicate floors. Photography is prohibited inside properties, and some routes also restrict external photos; check local guidelines. For those staying in Washington, the Alexandria route is the easiest to fit in, with metro access to Old Town. April weather usually alternates between mild and rainy days; bring a warm layer and an umbrella.
The Garden Club of Virginia publishes the dates and routes for each edition in the first months of the year, in a booklet with descriptions of each house. Choose a base such as Washington, Alexandria, Charlottesville or Richmond, and combine two or three routes on different days. Spring is a busy season in the region; book accommodation in advance, especially in Charlottesville on weekends.
April/May
March/AprilFrom mid or late March to mid April, lasting about four weeks, following the blooming of the cherry trees in Washington.
Spring festival in Washington that celebrates the cherry trees donated by Tokyo in 1912: weeks of events around the Tidal Basin and the National Mall, including a kite festival, a parade on Constitution Avenue, fireworks and a big Japanese street festival.
AprilIn April, over two consecutive weekends, Friday through Sunday, with the same lineup both weekends.
A music and arts festival in the Coachella Valley desert at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California: two April weekends with stages for rock, pop, hip-hop and electronic music, large art installations, and on‑site camping.
Your questions
For eight consecutive days, usually in the second half of April and in some years into early May. Each route has its opening days on the official calendar.
Private homes, gardens and historic properties that are normally closed to visitors, decorated with floral arrangements prepared by Virginia garden clubs.
To restore and conserve historic public gardens in the state and to provide landscape scholarships, programs administered by the Garden Club of Virginia.
Yes. The Alexandria route in Old Town is close to Washington and accessible by metro; other routes require a car and longer drives.
Festivals and events in the United States
JanuaryOn the last Saturday in January; the children’s parade takes place on the previous Saturday.
Tampa’s pirate festival in Florida: a pirate ship sails into the bay with hundreds of boats, the pirates take the key to the city and march along Bayshore Boulevard, throwing beaded necklaces to the costumed crowd.
JanuaryOn the morning of January 1; if the 1st falls on a Sunday, the parade is held on Monday, January 2.
New Year’s Day parade in Pasadena, near Los Angeles, featuring floats completely covered with flowers, seeds and other natural materials, marching bands and mounted units along Colorado Boulevard. On the same day, the Rose Bowl stadium hosts the college football game of the same name.
February/MarchOn a Saturday night, a few weeks after Lunar New Year, between February and early March; the celebration in Chinatown lasts several days.
San Francisco Lunar New Year nighttime illuminated parade organized by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce: floats, lion dance, acrobats, bands and, at the end, the Golden Dragon carried by dozens of people, amid firecrackers and lanterns.
MarchOn March 17, St. Patrick’s Day; if the date falls on a Sunday, the parade is moved to Saturday, March 16.
Irish parade along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan on St. Patrick’s Day: bagpipers, bands, Irish associations and groups from across the country march on foot, with no floats, passing in front of St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
MarchOver three consecutive days in March, from Friday to Sunday, usually in the last week of the month.
A three-day electronic music festival at Bayfront Park, beside Biscayne Bay in downtown Miami; the highlight of a week when the city hosts parties and DJ shows from around the world.
JuneOn the last full weekend of June; the celebration runs Saturday and Sunday, and the parade takes place on Sunday morning.
One of the world’s largest LGBT+ pride events: on the last weekend of June, San Francisco hosts a festival with stages and booths at Civic Center and, on Sunday morning, a parade along Market Street featuring hundreds of groups from the city.