Garden Fair Weekend is back for 2025 and bigger than ever!
Join Klehm the first weekend in June to experience a wide variety of plants, flowers, garden décor, art, educational information booths and more!
Listen to live music performances in our Fountain Garden while enjoying a meal from local food truck vendors, including:
- Cantina Taco (tacos)
- Pizza Fresca (wood fired pizza and gelato)
- Prairie Street Brewing Co. (locally brewed beer)
- Sizz N Fizz (smash burgers, chicken nuggets, cheese curds, waffle fries)
- Mighty Potato (loaded baked potatoes and more)
Discounted presale tickets will be available for sale at Klehm’s Visitors Center through Friday, May 30th.
Presale tickets are available at the following fine retail garden locations throughout Rockford through Friday, May 30th, while supplies last:
Didier Greenhouses – 4601 W State St, Rockford, IL 61102
Gensler Gardens – both locations:
- Loves Park – 102 Orth Rd, Loves Park, IL 61111
- Davis Junction – 8631 11th St, David Junction, IL 61020
The Landscape Connection – 4472 W. Mulford Rd, Rockford, IL 61109
Meridian Nursery – 7219 Cunningham Rd, Rockford, IL 61102
Pepper Creek Greenhouse and Gifts – 7295 Harrison Ave, Rockford, IL 61112
New in 2025! Stop at the Clarcor Pavilion Classroom during Garden Fair to join guest speakers from The Morton Arboretum and The Chicago Region Trees Initiative to learn more about a variety of topics related to trees, horticulture, gardening, and more! Each program will last 30-40 minutes and several sessions will be repeated throughout each day to allow guests multiple opportunities to attend.
Programs are made possible by the John and Pauline Cook Lecture Fund of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois.
Saturday, May 31st
10AM – Introduction to Foodscaping
2PM – Introduction to Foodscaping
Sunday, June 1st
10AM – Composting for Beginners
12PM – Native Trees for Home Landscapes
2PM – Composting for Beginners
Garden Fair Weekend Media Sponsors:
Saturday, May 31st, 2025
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday, June 1st, 2025
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
$10 Presale
$12 Gate Admission
FREE for Klehm members and children 12 & under
Presale tickets available now at Klehm and at area garden centers!
Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden
2715 S. Main St.
Rockford, IL 61102
1 (815) 965-8146
Explore More Events
Plant Sale Fundraiser 2025
May 9th – May 10th, 2025 – In-Person Shopping!
Pick up your online order on May 9th or May 10th in the Garden Pavilion at Klehm, and shop remaining selections in-person!
In Honor Of Trees Tranquility Walk
Wednesday, May 14th, 2025
On this twilight stroll through the forest, we will consider the relationship we have with trees, and honor those living beings that give us so, so much.
Vi Bates Wildflower Garden Walk
Saturday, May 17th, 2025
Join the volunteers who care for this special garden and enjoy a wide variety of wildflowers near their spring peak!
Rooted in Rockford: Art and Tree Science at Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden
June 7, 2025 – May 30, 2026
Get ready for an all-new seasonal outdoor exhibit blending tree science and artwork by Illinois-based artists at Klehm!
Call for Artists is now open – click to learn more!
Woodsong Summer Concert – The Neverly Brothers
Sunday, July 13th, 2025
The Neverly Brothers concerts take you on a musical guided VIRTUAL TOUR of the birth, near death and resurrection of rock n’ roll rock n roll – from 1955 to 1965. Their energetic stage show consists of show-stopping renditions of early hits by Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, and more!
Woodsong Summer Concert – The Groove Hotel
Sunday, July 27th, 2025
When guests check in to the Groove Hotel they enjoy a comfy bed of rhythm, fine musical cuisine, and silky sheets of sound.
The band’s continually evolving repertoire emphasizes rhythmic variety. You’ll hear swing, bossa nova, funk, rock, samba, gospel, and Cuban son; sometimes several of these appear in the same tune. Compositions from the jazz canon by Miles Davis, Horace Silver, or Herbie Hancock share the spotlight with songs by George Harrison, King Crimson, Steely Dan, and Eric Clapton, to name just a few.
Woodsong Summer Concert – The Yacht Rock-ettes
Sunday, August 10th, 2025
The world’s first and only female lead yacht rock cover band, bringing you lovers all the smooth rock of the 70s and early 80s. Be ready to listen to the songs of Michael McDonald, Hall & Oates, Sade, Kenny Loggins, Orleans, Christopher Cross, Toto, Ambrosia, and more!
Woodsong Summer Concert – Hypnotized: The Music of Fleetwood Mac
Sunday, August 24th, 2025
Hypnotized is a tribute group performing in homage to Fleetwood Mac, one of the bestselling rock and roll bands of all time. Evoking the spirit and sound of the 70’s, Hypnotized performs album tracks, deep cuts and chart topping hits from Rumours, Tusk, Tango In The Night, Mirage, Mystery To Me and more. With steady percussion, soaring vocals and articulate guitar work akin to that of MAC’s powerhouse line up, Hypnotized replicates the music exactly.
Woodsong Summer Concert – Gone 2 Paradise: Celebrating the Music of Jimmy Buffett
Sunday, September 7th, 2025
Gone 2 Paradise is the premier Jimmy Buffett experience, captivating audiences across the U.S. and internationally. Led by award-winning performers, the band is renowned for their dynamic shows and dedication to authentically capturing the essence of Buffett’s music, making them the ultimate choice for Parrotheads everywhere.