Outdoor Gardens,
Lobby + Gift Shop
April - September
10 am – 6 pm daily
October - March
10 am – 4 pm daily
Bolz Conservatory
10 am – 4 pm daily
Schumacher Library
10 am – 4 pm, Mon - Fri
10 am - 1 pm, Sat
Fri, Jun 16, 2023 – Sat, Jun 17, 2023
4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Daily
Summer Breeze
Grab a refreshing beverage and take a relaxing stroll in the Gardens with your sweetheart, create in community workshops, play a friendly game of bocce ball or cornhole with your pals, or start a dance party in the Thai Garden. Whether you're 2 or 102, there's something for everyone at this feel-good summer tradition.
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.
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, Pass the Pigs, Giant Dice, Twister, and Ping-Pong, plus dominos and playing cards offered throughout the Gardens – first come, first served.
And how about 200 feet of 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.
You may also happen upon other roaming performers and nature based maker activities. Summer Breeze offers a variety of entertainment on each date, so there’s always something new to experience.
GROOVE
Friday, June 16
Earth to Clark, a Wisconsin based duo, presents a distinctive blend of acoustic, funk, rock, reggae and hip hop. Bringing fire to the stage with their high energy, Earth to Clark brings awareness to social issues in our communities and confronts personal challenges that many can relate to.
Saturday, June 17
Sharin' Barrels, a folksy blues trio including a stand-up bass, acoustic guitar, and mandolin, will bring the boogie all night long!
GRAZE
Summer Breeze features flavor-full Thai cuisine from Monsoon Siam, tasty tacos from Migrants, made with locally sourced, organic ingredients and handmade tortillas, crispy chicken sandwiches from The Roost (Friday only), and vegan/plant based comfort food from Twisted Plants (Saturday only).
Enjoy cool treats from Fifth Scoop, serving up plant-based scoops of frozen deliciousness in biodegradable and compostable containers and gourmet, organic cotton candy and lollipops from Lily's Magical Treats!
Wet your whistle with a selection of local micro brews, summer cocktails or organic juice boxes for the kiddos. Community dining tables, benches, and patio seating available, but feel free to bring your own lawn chair if you'd like to guarantee yourself a seat!
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
Wed, Jun 7, 2023 All Day
Summer Pollinator Plant Sale
Wisconsin is home to over 400 species of wild bees, and more than 120 species of butterflies. As the moon rises, over 1,500 species of moths awaken, ensuring round the clock pollination and these are just the more well-known pollinators! These tiny superheroes pollinate over one-third of our food, making their health and survival a critical component of earth’s ecosystem. Every little bit helps – don’t have space to dig in the dirt – create a pollinator focused container for your patio! Olbrich’s Pollinator Plant Sales offer a variety of perennials with plentiful amounts of nectar and pollen, making them very appealing to pollinator insects! Plant pickup is June 20.
Adults
At Olbrich
Tue, Jun 27, 2023 7:00 pm
Summer Concert Series
Enjoy an evening concert in one of Madison's most delightful outdoor venues! Concert attendees should bring their own lawn chairs or blankets. Carry in picnics and beverages are allowed. No concert on July 4th.
Everyone/All Ages
At Olbrich