Outdoor Gardens,
Lobby + Gift Shop
April - September
10 am – 6 pm daily
October - March
10 am – 4 pm daily
Bolz Conservatory
Closed March 11 - June 14 for Planned Maintenance
Schumacher Library
Permanently Closed
Fri, Jun 14, 2024
–
Sat, Jun 15, 2024
4:00 pm
–
9:00 pm
Daily
Summer Breeze
Grab a beverage and take a stroll in the Gardens with your sweetheart, play a game of bocce ball or cornhole with your pals, or start a dance party on the Great Lawn. From fantastic local food cart fare, to giant lawn games, to local music, there’s something for EVERYONE at Summer Breeze!
Everyone/All Ages
At Olbrich
General Admission - $15 | Olbrich Members - $10 | Child (Ages 6-12) - $5 | 5 & Under - FREE
Admission at the door; no pre-sale tickets.
Additional cost for food and beverages; no carry-ins. Gardens close early at 2 p.m. to prepare for Summer Breeze on June 14 & 15
Unwind with friends or family, feel that cool Lake Monona breeze in your hair, stop to smell the roses, or become a flamingo ring toss champ, all while supporting your free public garden!
GAMES
A variety of classic lawn games including Kubb, Croquet, Giant Dice, Badminton, and Bocce are offered throughout the Gardens, along with dominos, playing cards and other tabletop games – first come, first served.
And how about hop scotch, hula hoops, and a big ol’ tub of bubbles for the littles (and the bigs) to enjoy…because deep down inside we’re all just big kids, right?
Games offered until 8:30 p.m. – no charge. Availability is subject to attendance and natural game time durations.
GET CREATIVE
Summer Breeze offers pop-up activities on each date, so there’s always something new to experience.
OPEN CALL - Pop-up Workshops!!!
Calling all makers & shakers!
Olbrich invites local artists, creators, and facilitators to submit workshop proposals for this year's Summer Breeze.
Open to a wide variety of concepts – art & play - nature focused a plus! Underwriting support is provided.
Proposal submission deadline May 13.
The DETAILS and submission form.
GROOVE
Let your body move to the sound of the groove...summer, summer, summertime! Stay tuned for updates on the featured mix masters!
FRIDAY, June 14 - TBD
SATURDAY, June 15
DJ Femme Noir
DJ Femme Noir is a premiere Open Format DJ from the Midwest, currently residing in Wisconsin. Her sets are intertwined with an eclectic array of music styles from various genres of mainstream and underground music. From popular classics to current singles that dominate the charts, she will have you dancing the whole night away!
GRAZE
Enjoy tasty eats and cool treats from a variety of local restaurants and food trucks.
REAP Food Truck featuring Chef Yusuf Bin-Rella
Chef Yusuf, founder of Trade Roots and Farmer, collaborates with friends over at REAP Food Group to offer an Afro-diasporic inspired menu.
This spring, Yusuf is planting up a variety of collard greens at Olbrich Gardens, establishing two new collard banks in Madison's growing network. At Summer Breeze guests will have an opportunity pick and add fresh collards to their smoothies, along with other ingredients sourced from the Gardens. Available for community sharing, the collard banks will continue to flourish throughout the summer season in Olbrich's Children Kitchen Garden.
Milpa
Milpa owners, Shannon Berry and Miroslava (Miros) Muñoz, will be serving up quesadillas with their small batch, specialty salsas! And for dessert, traditional Mexican buñuelos, a fried fritter with cinnamon and sugar.
What is a Milpa?
A pre-Hispanic farming system from Central America which cooperatively grows corn, beans, and squash together creating a perfect balance of nutrients for each plant and the soil. Our company was born out of a friendship that is a reflection of how food connects and builds community.
Twisted Plants
Back again by popular demand, Twisted Plants will blow your mind with their plant-based burgers and tasty vegan sides. Owners, Brandon & Arielle Hawthorne started Twisted Plants back in 2019 to spread their love of vegan comfort food and encourage healthy food options. Congratulation, on their recent award for Milwaukee Business Journal's "40 under 40", recognizing the best and brightest emerging leaders under 40!
Pete's Pops
Be dazzled by Pete's uniquely flavored and delicious pops and ice cream bars made with all natural ingredients! Try a cantaloupe lemongrass flavored popsicle or how about salted watermelon or maybe chocolate covered potato chip, what?!?! YUM!
Rain Plan
In the case of constant, heavy rain, we'll post the rain call here and on the homepage at 12:30 p.m. Many of the games will move inside and we'll pump up the jams in the tropical Bolz Conservatory. Reduced capacity will apply to an indoor set up.
In the case of a few sporadic sprinkles, most Summer Breeze activities will remain outdoors with the addition of inside seating.
So don’t let a few raindrops stop you from hanging out and supporting the Gardens!
You Might Be Interested In
Fri, May 17, 2024 4:00 pm
Member Appreciation Bee Bingo
Join us in Olbrich's Frautschi Family Learning Center for a FREE member appreciation bee-themed bingo night! Did you know Olbrich Gardens is home to over 55 species of bees!? Discover the buzzing world of bees and play for a chance to win a sweet-as-honey prize pack!
Everyone/All Ages
At Olbrich
Tue, Jun 25, 2024 6:00 pm
Olbrich After Hours
The Summer Concert Series is back with a fresh twist and new name - Olbrich After Hours! We’re open late! Enjoy an evening in the gardens with a rolling line-up of dynamic musicians, pop-up performances, and delectable food carts. Quench your thirst with a microbrew, summer cocktail, or mocktail. And connect with eco-friendly organizations committed to conserving our environment. Bring your own lawn chair or blanket seating.
Everyone/All Ages
At Olbrich
Fri, Nov 22, 2024 6:00 pm
The Canopy Sessions
Start your weekend with a live concert performed in one of Madison’s most unique venues: the Bolz Conservatory! Explore the tropics, enjoy the warmth, and be entertained by some of the area's most talented musicians.
Everyone/All Ages
At Olbrich