Spring Bloom Festival returns to Bok Tower Gardens in 2019

The Spring Bloom Festival is back at Bok Tower Gardens in 2019 to celebrate 90 years of history with a full calendar of events and floral displays at Pinewood Estate.

From Feb. 1, 2019 – March 31, 2019, guests can visit the gardens during the Spring Bloom Festival in the hopes of seeing more than 150 varieties of camellias and hundreds of azaleas bloom. Since the exact dates for peak bloom are difficult to predict, guests are encouraged to return throughout the spring season to experience the changing colors.

“Azaleas really steal the show, but my favorite are the camellias,” said David Price, president of Bok Tower Gardens. “And the best time to visit is February through the first few weeks of March while the bloom cycles for camellias and azaleas are overlapping.”

Live music will delight visitors to the gardens throughout the two-month festival, leading up to the 90th Anniversary International Carillon Festival, held March 20-24. The 60 carillon bells will ring every half hour and during daily concerts at 1 and 3 p.m.

Guests can also enjoy complimentary guided walking tours of the gardens Mondays – Fridays at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m., and on Sundays at 2 p.m. from Jan. 4 – April 14. These tours depart from the Visitor Center.

If you’re looking for more floral festivities, visit the Pinewood Estate, which will be blossoming with specially designed floral displays throughout the 20-room Mediterranean-style 1930s winter retreat for the Spring Bloom Festival. The estate is open for historical tours daily from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. for an additional price.

Check out the schedule of events for the Spring Bloom Festival below:

• Brunch in the Gardens – Jan. 6 and Jan. 20, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Tai Chi in the Gardens – Saturday mornings through April 6, 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
• Yoga Dance – Jan. 8, Feb. 5, and March 5, 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
• 90th Anniversary Edward Bok Memorial Carillon Concert – Jan. 9, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
• Veggie Fest – Jan. 11-13
• Veggie Fest “Roll Your Own Vegan Sushi” – Jan. 11, 6-8 p.m.
• Veggie Fest “The Perfect Snack: Making Plant-Based Energy Bites” – Jan. 12, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
• Veggie Fest “Totally Slurpable Pad Thai Noodles” – Jan. 12, 2-3:30 p.m.
• Sounds and Yoga for Energy Balancing – Jan. 12 and March 30, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Basic Earth Skills – Jan. 12, 2-4 p.m.
• Veggie Fest “Instant Pot Training: Making Red Lentil Soup & More” – Jan. 13, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Dr. Martin Luther King Carillon Concert – Jan. 15, 1 p.m. & 3 p.m.
• Visionaries of the Lake Wales Ridge – Jan. 16, 12-1 p.m.
• Watercolor Painting Class with Cathy Futral – Jan. 19, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Dog Day – Jan. 20
• Meditation with Crystal & Tibetan Singing Bowls – Jan. 22, Feb. 19, and March 19, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
• For the Birds – Jan. 23, 12-1 p.m.
• Farm to Table Dinner with Chef Amy Freeze “Best of As Seen on TV” – Jan. 24, 6-8 p.m.
• Whiskey Tasting and Pairing Class – Jan. 25, 6-7:30 p.m.
• Well Being Made Easy – Jan. 26, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Secrets of a Chef – Jan. 26, 1-3 p.m.
• Artistry of the Tower & Gardens – Jan. 30, 12-1 p.m.
• 90th Anniversary Founder’s Day Weekend Celebration – Feb. 1-3, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• The Resilience Advantage – Feb. 2, 9-11 a.m.
• Harmony Dark Sky Party – Feb. 2, 4-10 p.m.
• Beyond Quinoa – Feb. 6, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Naturalist Training – Feb. 9, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
• Healthy Skin Care Products – Feb. 9, 2-4 p.m.
• Music on the Terrace with Brain Sutherland – Feb. 10, 12-2 p.m.
• Your Central Florida Lawn – Feb. 13, 12-1 p.m.
• For the Love of Chocolate – Feb. 14, 1-2 p.m. and 5:30-6:30 p.m.
• Valentine’s Day at Pinewood Estate – Feb. 14, 6-8 p.m.
• Bok After Dark “Valentine’s Day” – Feb. 14, 5-8:30 p.m.
• Time for a Change Meditation Retreat – Feb. 16 and March 23, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• The Earth Keepers Secret Gratitude Ceremony: Ancient Ways for Modern People – Feb. 16, 5-8 p.m.
• Children’s Meditation & Yoga Retreat – Feb. 17 and March 31, 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• President’s Day Carillon Concert – Feb. 19, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
• Tea Time at Bok Tower Gardens “Teas of Bok Tower Gardens” – Feb. 20, 1-2 p.m.
• 90th Anniversary Carillon Classic 5K Run/Walk – Feb. 23, 7:30 a.m.
• Acrylic Painting Class with Cathy Futral – Feb. 23, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Music on the Terrace with Marcus Brixa and Josh Dampier – Feb. 24, 12-2 p.m.
• Singing Bronze Visitor Center Exhibit
• Natural Basket Making – March 2, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Fermenting Condiments and Pickles – March 2, 1-3 p.m.
• Music on the Terrace with Vintage Road – March 3, 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.
• Gardening in the Shade – March 6, 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.
• Bok After Dark “80s Night” – March 8, 5-8 p.m.
• Vegetable and Herb Gardening for Central Florida – March 9, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Music on the Terrace with Delaney Dew “St. Patrick’s Day Weekend Celebration – March 16, 12-2 p.m.
• Music on the Terrace with Mrs. Murphy’s Chowder “St. Patrick’s Day Weekend Celebration” – March 17, 12-2 p.m.
• St. Patrick’s Day Carillon Concert – March 17, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
• Family Camping Adventure – March 16-17
• Edible Plants “Eat the Invasive Weeds” – March 20, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
• 90th Anniversary International Carillon Festival – March 20-24
• Tea Time at Bok Tower Gardens “Tea for Stress Relief” – March 20, 1-2 p.m.
• Bok After Dark “International Carillon Festival” – March 20, 5-8 p.m.
• Farm to Table Dinner with Chef Amy Freeze “Best of Brinner – Breakfast for Dinner” – March 21, 6-8 p.m.
• The Insect Jungle in Your Backyard – March 27, 12-1 p.m.
• Hammock Hollow Fairy Fest – March 30, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Spring Bloom Wine Walk – March 30, 2-5 p.m.

For more details on these Spring Bloom Festival events and to learn how to participate, visit BokTowerGardens.org.