Across Chicagoland this summer, discover opportunities to go outdoors, connect with nature, and share meaningful moments with others—all vital elements to healthy aging. We’re featuring an all-star lineup of nature-forward events taking place during July and August.
Did you know simply spending more time outdoors can have numerous benefits for your physical and mental health? It may…
- Improve heart health, circulation and lower cholesterol, blood glucose, and blood pressure.
- Reduce inflammation and boost your immune system, which decreases the risk of certain diseases and cancers.
- Improve aspects of brain health like memory recall, cognitive flexibility, and attention span.
- Boost happiness, positive social interactions, and a deepened sense of meaning and purpose in life, as well as decreases in mental distress.
- Reduce anxiety and depression, while promoting a sense of well-being and fulfillment.
Thankfully, there are places across the city working to open up the outdoors to communities across Chicago. Check out some exciting ones below!
Chicago Botanic Garden
Thursday, July 2 from 6-7:30p.m.
Immerse yourself in the scents, textures, sounds, and even tastes of the Sensory Garden. As you explore the grounds with the horticulturist who tends these plants every day, breathe in fragrant blooms, feel varied bark surfaces, hear rustling leaves, and sample edible plants.
Admission to the event for members is $29, and $36 for non-members.
Every second & fourth Saturday and Sunday in June – August from 11:30a.m. & 12:30p.m.
Learn to cook with garden-fresh ingredients all summer long at the Garden Chef Series. Noted chefs prepare recipes in the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden’s open-air amphitheater.
The demonstrations are included with regular garden admission fees for nonmembers.
May 13 – September 27
Wednesday – Friday from 11a.m.-3p.m.
Saturday & Sunday from 11a.m.-4p.m.
Volunteers or staff in the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden share information about the featured plant and encourage visitors to take a seedling home to plant on their balcony, patio, or in their backyard garden. A care sheet with growing information and use tips is available for visitors to photograph.
Garfield Park Conservatory
June 4 – September 24, 2026 | Select Thursdays and Sundays from 11-11:30a.m.
Curious about bees and beekeeping? Join Garfield Park Conservatory throughout the summer on select Thursdays and Sundays as beekeeping volunteers and the Head Beekeeper demonstrate techniques with active beehives and explain their work. Demonstrations are for all ages and interest levels. The public bee hives are located on the southern end of campus.
Beekeeping demonstrations are included with your admission ticket ($5 for adults 65+).
Rooted in Joy: Land, Legacy & Belonging – Panel Discussion
Wednesday, July 9 from 6-7:30p.m.
Garfield Park Conservatory and Chicago Botanic Garden are partnering for a conversation exploring the deep connections between Black American history, land, food, and community in the Midwest and Chicago.
Featuring a scholar, a Chicago-based urban agriculture leader, and a culinary cultural voice, the discussion will bring together history, lived experience, and contemporary community work to explore:
- the agricultural knowledge and cooperative traditions rooted in Black communities
- the role of gardens and urban agriculture in creating access, connection, and neighborhood care
- the ways food traditions preserve memory, culture, and celebration across generation
- Together, the panel will reflect on what it means to cultivate belonging through land, food, and community, and how Black gardening traditions continue to shape the cultural life of cities like Chicago today.
Admission to the panel discussion is free, and access to the conservatory is included with registration.
Friday, July 10 from 10-11:30a.m.
Join Garfield Park Conservatory and the TreeKeepers from Openlands for an in person tour around the Conservatory grounds to learn about trees! The tour will explore the trees around Bluestone Terrace on Conservatory grounds. Attendees will check in at the main entrance and gather in the Horticulture Hall before the start of the tour.
Admission is free with registration.
Artist’s Flower Show: Pigments!
July 1 – Sept 13 | 10a.m. to 8p.m.
Explore the colorful world of the 2026 Artist’s Garden Show, Pigments! The garden features plants that have been used throughout history to impart color into textiles, paints, inks, and even cosmetics. Unlike most modern-day pigments made from factory chemicals, many artists prefer to use pigments which are created by grinding natural substances or soaking plant parts to create dyes.
These plants and others will be growing in the Pigments garden, and the accompanying messaging will provide plenty of insight into the history and uses of plant pigments. More importantly, it might just inspire you to make your own pigments and dyes to create paints, clothing, and fun!
April 5 – Aug 30 | 1-3p.m.
Join Garfield Park Conservatory’s volunteers on Sunday afternoons to learn more about composting. You can find the demonstration outside in the Demo Garden from late spring to early fall. Various topics will be covered monthly from starting your own composting system at home to how to harvest your finished compost.
This drop-in program is included with your general admission reservation ($5 for adults 65+).
Memory Cafe at Garfield Park Conservatory
Tuesday, August 11 | 10-11:30a.m.
This program is designed for anyone experiencing memory challenges and their loved ones or caregivers. During the program, participants will:
- Go on a short guided tour in the indoor gardens
- Connect with the group through introductions
- Create a nature-inspired craft project
- Learn about additional resources
This program is free and requests pre-registration.
Lincoln Park Conservancy
Select Fridays | 2-3:30p.m.
Join Manager of Park Stewardship and Ecologist Matt Evans for a nature walk around North Pond and/or the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool in Lincoln Park. Nature walks will be focused on native wildflowers, Midwestern and urban ecology.
Tickets for $20 will be available approximately 2 weeks prior to each scheduled event.
Morton Arboretum
Wednesdays this summer through August 19 | 6-8:00p.m.
Enjoy live music with friends and family at The Morton Arboretum. Dance, enjoy food and drinks, play lawn games, and watch amazing sunsets over Meadow Lake from the view on Frost Hill.
Admission for adults 18+ (non-members) is $15.
Walking Plays, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Select dates in July and August
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the classic Shakespearean romp, comes to the fairy forest of the Arboretum. In this tale, audiences will be captivated by magic, music, and mistaken identities. The performance runs approximately 90 minutes and includes a 1.5-mile walk, with no intermission. Suitable for all ages, with some crass humor and romantic situations. A low-impact hike date is available on Saturday, July 25.
Admission for adults 18+ (non-members) is $27.
Find Green Spaces Near You
The Chicago Park District’s Natural Areas team manages over 100 natural areas across nearly 2,000 acres of parkland. Find the one closest to you using their interactive map. Use the Chicago Park District Event Finder Tool to check out select events by park, community area, or zip code.
