Garfield Park Conservatory: free events year round.
If you’re looking for something to do indoors take a trip to the Garfield Park Conservatory which is open 365 days a year and is always free (suggested donation).
Where: Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 North Central Park Avenue. 312-746-5100
Programs: 773-638-1766
When: Open 365 days a year. Daily Hours: 9 am – 5 pm and Wednesdays: 9 am – 8 pm. Admission free. Donations requested. Free parking is located just south of the Conservatory’s main entrance in the visitor parking lot. If you take the Green Line be aware of your surroundings you’ll be going through Austin and Garfield Park.
Please check the Events page for more detailed information. All events are subject to change.
Free Adult Programs
- Adult Group Visit here for details and registration.
- Drop-In Demonstrations. Volunteers cover the topics of beekeeping, composting and gardening in hands-on demonstrations. Check calendar for events.
- Lectures: Check calendar for upcoming lectures.
- Yoga: free yoga sessions are the 2nd and 4th Saturdays each month from 9am-10am.
- Wandering Guides: ‘Wandering Guides’ are trained and knowledgeable volunteers around to answer questions. Times vary but look for them in a green apron.
- Digital Tours: Download the app from iTunes or GooglePlay: Garfield Park Conservatory. Via web, visit garfieldconservatory.toursphere.com or scan the QR code posted in the Lobby.
Family Programs
Garfield Park Conservatory is a fantastic place to bring family members of all ages. Something’s always growing, and there’s always something new to discover! To make your “growing” experience here even more enjoyable, we offer a number of special educational opportunities FREE for kids and families!
2019 Monthly Themes
Each month we dig into a different theme for Morning Glories and Fiddleheads, and use the plant collection as a platform for our exploration. From texture to color, shading and symmetry, our plants exemplify it all! See below for a full list of our monthly themes.
- January: Smell
- February: Flowers
- March: Sound
- April: Conservation
- May: Gardening
- June: Insects
- July: Herbs
- August: Taste
- September: Native Trees
- October: Leaves
- November: Light
- December: Winter Traditions
Planning a visit when we don’t have programming? No problem! We have a variety of resources to make your self-guided visit just as fun, including scavenger hunts, digital tours, activities and more! Resources
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About Garfield Park Conservatory
The Garfield Park Conservatory is one of the largest conservatories in the nation. When it opened in 1908 it was referred to as “landscape art under glass.” The conservatory occupies approximately 4.5 acres inside and out, where thousands of rare plant species are on display throughout eight indoor display rooms and vast outdoor gardens during the summer.
The Conservatory’s eight themed and multifaceted display houses are: Palm House, Fern Room, Sugar from the Sun, Elizabeth Morse Genius Children’s Garden, Aroid House, Desert House, Horticulture Hall and The Show House. The outdoor gardens include a city garden, a sensory garden, a labyrinth, lily pools and a demonstration garden.
Most recently, the Garfield Park Conservatory sustained catastrophic damage from a hail storm that swept through the area in June, 2011, shattering 60 percent of the facility’s glass roof. The public display houses most affected by the damage include the historic Fern Room, Show House, and Desert House, along with the all 10 production greenhouses. Reconstruction and repairs are complete and all rooms have reopened.
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