At Pinecrest Gardens, each season has its unique qualities and its own pace; the summertime brings many field trips and families. The park is buzzing with children’s activities. The Splash ’n Play is filled with laughter and the lush foliage provides a shady refuge for visitors to escape the summer heat while enjoying a comfortable, beautiful and safe gathering place to savor the outdoors.
The fall ignites excitement in the park and our schedule of events is a cornucopia of educational, cultural and recreational activities that includes festivals, performances in the Banyan Bowl, Art Gallery Openings, and wonderful lectures and classes.
I personally love the Gardens’ fall and winter seasons because our days and nights are jam-packed with activities for everyone; quality time with your children, fun-time with your friends or the perfect romantic date-night out with your significant other! Join us, whatever the time of day, because we know there will be something happening at the Gardens that will appeal to you.
FIU JAZZ IN THE GARDENS
In addition to our signature jazz series, Jazz at Pinecrest Gardens, premiering at the end of this month, please join us in welcoming our newest resident company, the renowned Florida International University Music Department presenting their own four-program jazz series. Kicking off FIU Jazz in the Gardens will be the FIU Latin Jazz Ensemble and Combo 1 in a night of high energy Latin jazz, jazz standards and creative compositions. Show these incredibly talented young performers your love and support and attend one or all of their shows. Tickets are $18 and $15 for adults, and $10 for students.
GARDENS CINEMA
Family Fridays return Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. The fun begins with a trip to the Petting Zoo and our famous Flashlight Tour. What a treat for all the senses as you smell the night air, hear the sounds of tree frogs and watch the Gardens come to life during this after-dark extravaganza. Following the tour, dine on hot dogs and chips, or grab some popcorn and join us in the Banyan Bowl at 8 p.m. when we conclude the evening’s activities with our featured film, Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax. General admission is $5 and children under two enter free.
Enjoy live music, martinis and a movie under the stars. Your favorite Chick Flicks has moved to Wednesday, a mid-week diversion to get you over the hump. Join us Oct. 17 for the hilarious romantic comedy It’s Complicated starring Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin as a divorced couple who discover that “sex with your ex” can really shake things up and create the most delicious chaos. Gates open at 6:30 p.m., movie at 8 p.m. General admission is $5.
GARDENS GALLERY
Miami-Dade County Public Schools, in partnership with the Gardens and Dade Art Educators Association, present Nature as Designer: Where Science and Nature Collide! The Awards Reception will be held Thursday, Oct. 18, from 6-8 p.m. and admission is free. Approximately 200 students in grades K-12 and 15 visual art teachers will exhibit their work through Oct. 31. EDUCATION
Botanical Arts and Crafts offers children ages 6-10 years the opportunity to learn about plants through creative expression. Our next class (each class is held twice a month) is Saturday, Oct. 21, from 2-3 p.m. Your child can partake in our “Halloween Edition” and use plant materials to make Halloween decorations for the own home featuring bats, black cats, ghosts and pumpkins. All of our Botanical Arts and Crafts sessions are $5 per child, which includes materials. Class size is limited to 20, so register your child today.
ADULT BOTANICAL LECTURES Creating Tile Mosaic Art for Your Garden — Arts and flowers come together in this wonderful lecture, Oct. 10, at 10 a.m. in the Hibiscus Room (Gardens Gallery). Local landscape designer and artist Sandy Roth from Sandyscapes will demonstrate the techniques needed to create your own garden art, such as decorative pots, birdbaths and more. Turn the ordinary into the extraordinary and get your creative juices flowing. Our adult lectures are free and refreshments will be served.
MORE REASONS TO SPEND WEEKENDS AT THE GARDENS Farmers Market: Sunday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. — Enjoy the fresh air while selecting your fresh produce, spices, home-baked breads, hand-made pastas, organic products and much more at Pinecrest Gardens Farmers Market.
Food Truck Invasion: Saturday 11 a.m.-4 p.m. — Indulge your appetite for food truck fare every Saturday (except festival days) in the Gardens parking lot at the site of the Farmers Market under the Banyan Trees. Choose from 15 of South Florida’s very best food trucks each week.
For information, call 305-669-6990.
