Cloudy, 59°F
Cloudy, 59°F
Of the thousands of flowering plants in the Arboretum, only one, the lilac, is singled out each year for a daylong celebration.
Tours of the lilacs and other special collections, live music, family activities, food vendors, and picnicking (on this special day only) make for a memorable day. Be a part of this beloved Boston tradition!
The Arboretum is open as usual from dawn to dusk. Refreshments and activities are available from 10:00am to 4:00pm. View the day-of schedule [pdf]. Weather Update: Lloyd Thayer music performance canceled. All other activities to proceed as scheduled.
Parking:
Street parking along the Arboretum perimeter is limited and visitors are advised to take public transportation. No unauthorized vehicles will be allowed within the gates during the event.
Accessibility:
Some parking spaces outside the gates will be designated for special-needs visitors. A limited number of wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis at information tents in three locations: in front of the Hunnewell Visitor Center, inside the Forest Hills Gate, and inside the Centre Street Gate. They may not be reserved in advance.
Lilac Collection:
With more than 380 lilac plants of 176 kinds, the Arboretum holds one of the premier lilac collections in North America.
T-Shirt:
The 2013 Lilac Sunday t-shirt was designed by Arnold Arboretum Arborist Kyle Stephens. All proceeds from t-shirt sales will benefit the Arboretum’s school programs, serving Boston Public Schools.
Become a member:
Join the Friends of the Arnold Arboretum as a new member on Lilac Sunday and receive a lilac seedling while supplies last. Look for the membership tent near the lilacs.
Read a related article, Splendid Acres, from the Harvard Gazette.
Enjoy the lilacs, and explore other featured collections at the Arboretum. Tours last about 45 minutes.
10:00am–3:00pm (every half hour)
Arboretum Tours
Learn about the Arboretum as you walk to the lilac collection.
—Meet at Hunnewell Lawn
10:30am, 12:30pm, 2:00pm
Lilac Collection Tours
Learn about the historic lilacs, one of the Arboretum’s conservation collections.
—Meet at Lilac Collection
11:00am, 12:00pm
Explorers Garden Tours Explorers travel the world to bring new plants to the Arboretum. Take an international voyage right here in Boston.
—Meet at Lilac Collection
1:00pm, 3:00 pm
Leventritt Shrub & Vine Garden Tours
Learn about sun-loving shrubs and vines.
—Meet at Lilac Collection
10:00am, 12:00pm
Bradley Rosaceous Collection Tours
There are more than roses in the rose family; explore this large and diverse family of plants.
—Meet at Lilac Collection
Multi-lingual Tours
Learn about the Arboretum as you walk to the lilac collection. Tours will be offered in Spanish (11:30am), Romanian (1:30pm), Chinese (2:00pm), and French (2:30pm).
—Meet at Hunnewell Lawn
Self-Guided Lilac Tour
Enjoy signs in the landscape at featured lilacs to learn as you enjoy the amazing diversity of this special collection. Download a tour brochure [pdf] to accompany the tour, or use your smartphone to walk the lilac tour using our new mobile app, Arboretum Explorer.
10:00am–4:00pm
Horticulture Truck Display
Come see a display of the various trucks used to take care of the Arboretum. Arborists will be on hand to answer questions!
—Centre Street Gate
10:00am–4:00pm
Arboretum Explorer
Stop by and learn about the Arboretum’s new mobile mapping application with the IT staff.
—Hunnewell Lawn
10:00am–4:00pm
Arnold Arboretum Horticultural Library Display
Learn about the Arboretum’s book collection and extensive historical archives with the library staff.
—Hunnewell Lawn
10:00am–4:00pm
Membership
Become a member and receive a free lilac! This year’s new member lilac is the cultivar ‘Frederick Law Olmsted.’
—Ponds
10:00am–4:00pm
Arnold Arboretum Information
Look for information about the Arboretum and Lilac Sunday in the Hunnewell Visitor Center and at tents by the Arborway Gate, Forest Hills Gate, and Centre Street Gate.
—Various locations
10:00am–4:00pm
Lilac Information
What are the best lilacs for your home garden? Why don’t your lilacs bloom? Experts will be on hand to answer your lilac questions.
—Lilac Collection
10:00am–4:00pm
Science & Craft Workshop
Lilac Sunday Bingo
From lilacs to food trucks, be the first to find four in a row!
Mug Board
Pose as your favorite lilac
—Hunnewell Lawn
Relax with folk-infused jazz and sultry blues.
—Leventritt Pavilion
12:00–2:00pm
Lloyd Thayer
Sit back and enjoy harmonica and steel guitar street blues. A great place to picnic, too!
—Bradley Rosaceous Collection
2:30–4:00pm
Rachel Panitch and Eric McDonald
Delight in vibrant roots fiddle and guitar.
—Bradley Rosaceous Collection
Picnicking allowed on this special day only! Please help keep the Arboretum beautiful by cleaning up after your meal. Trash and recycling containers are located throughout the landscape.
Refreshments are available from 10:00am–4:00pm from these vendors:
While you are in the neighborhood, we invite you to visit local shops and restaurants in Jamaica Plain and Roslindale.
