Special Events

Music in the Gardens

Join us for a delightful afternoon on Saturday, August 10, for Music in the Gardens! Let your worries melt away as you immerse yourself in the beautiful melodies drifting through the gardens.

Enjoy the music of award-winning classical guitar performer Christopher Schoelen from 11am to 1pm, followed by the diverse sounds of Birds of a Feather Sing Together, featuring vocal jazz, big band, country, and more, from 2pm to 3pm. And as a special treat, Naan Stop Kebap will be serving their delicious naan wraps, shareables, and more.

Plus, select areas of Virginia’s House will be open for tours from 11am to 3pm, allowing you to indulge in activities like puzzles, board games, reading books, knitting, or crochet at your leisure. 

Music in the Gardens is a FREE event taking place the second Saturday of each month through October. Concerts are held on the 577 Outdoor Stage near the Dome. Whether it’s rain or shine, the show will go on. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, we’ll move the music inside Virginia’s House. Seating is limited, we recommend bringing a blanket or chair for a cozy experience.

SOLD OUT FOR 2024! Thank you for your support!

All proceeds from our plant sale fundraiser will be invested back into 577’s programs, services, buildings, and gardens. Sales tax will be applied to all purchases.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Go Green Day on Saturday, April 20!

Celebrate Sustainability with a day of fun for the whole family! Explore the gardens and grounds, check out the special activities and guests, and tour the first floors of Virginia’s historic home and the Cottage. Plus, enjoy picnic lunch with crepes and delicious tacos from Lyle’s Crepes Food Truck and listen to the sweet sounds of music in the gardens from Southview & Notherview Tri-M Music Honor Society.

Don’t forget to drop into the Welcome Center & Curiosity Shop and browse the large selection of once-loved books, magazines, art supplies, and more. There is always something new to discover, thanks to generous donations from the community. Bonus! When you find that perfect item to take home, you save it from entering the waste stream (and save a little money by buying used!).

Go Green Day is a free event. Rain or shine. 

SPECIAL ACTIVITIES & GUESTS

Event Activities: 11:00am ~ 3:00pm 

• Plant a Terra Cotta Pot ~ Outdoor Stage
• Create a Seed Paper Gift Tag ~ Outdoor Stage
• Sculpt Clay Air Fresheners ~ Pottery Studio
• Nature Scavenger Hunts ~ Welcome Center & Grounds
• Tour the first floors of 577’s Historic Home ~ Virginia’s House & Cottage
• Visit & learn about Rescued Wildlife with Nature’s Nursery ~ Virginia’s House Garage Studio
• All About Bats with Nancy & John Salerno ~ Welcome Center
• Enjoy a picnic lunch with crepes and delicious tacos from Lyle’s Crepes Food Truck ~ In Front of Virginia’s House

Event Activities: 11:00am ~ 1:00pm

• Help your favorite stuffed animal in the 577 Teddy Bear Repair & Care Clinic ~ Cottage
• Learn to repair and restore your clothes in the 577 Visible Mending Lab ~ Library in Virginia’s House
• Explore and learn more about rain gardens and rain barrels from the Rain Garden Initiative ~ Virginia’s House ~ Garage Studio

Event Activities: 1:00pm ~ 3:00pm

• Learn Furoshiki: Eco-friendly Gift Wrapping ~ Cottage
• Paint with Eco-Friendly Watercolor ~ Lounge in Virginia’s House

Event Activities: 1:30pm ~ 3:00pm

• Enjoy music in the gardens from Southview & Northview Tri-M Music Honor Society ~ Dining Room in Virginia’s House (*due to cool forecast)

*Activities, times, and locations are subject to change. 

Celebrate Earth Month with 577 in April!

Virginia Secor Stranahan envisioned 577 as a place where people would “learn to love the land.” While the world celebrates Earth Day on April 22, here we honor it every day.

Join us in April, as we highlight the many ways we can all make small changes that make a big impact in protecting the planet. By taking action and working together, we can help ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.

Earth Month Event Highlights:

The StoryWalk® Trail is a great adventure for the whole family to explore nature while reading about nature. What will April’s story be? More information coming soon!

Earth Month Bingo Scavenger Hunt ~ Walk around the grounds of 577 to complete this nature-inspired bingo board. Kids (and kids at heart) can pick up a board in the Welcome Center & Curiosity Shop during open hours and return their BINGO for a special prize. The Bingo board is also available for download – CLICK HERE. 

577 Tree Trek Scavenger Hunt returns on Saturday, April 20 to celebrate Go Green Day and Arbor Day (April 26) and will be available through May. More details coming soon.

Check out 577’s Program Coordinator Avery Bohman’s upcoming blog posts on Sustainability.

• The Beauty of Crafting Sustainably ~ CLICK HERE

Upcoming classes that offer you the opportunity to learn a new skill with a focus on sustainability. Click the name of the class for more information and to register.

UPCOMING ADULT CLASSES

• Mixed Media Pet Portraits: Thursday, April 11 ~ 5pm to 8pm
• Sustainable Art: Handcrafted Upcycled Sketchbook: Monday, April 22 ~ 2pm to 4pm
• Thrifted Painting Party: Spring Blooms: Saturday, May 4 ~ 10am to 11:30am
• Paper Marbling: Suminagashi: Tuesday, May 7, 6pm to 8pm
• Explore the Art of Papermaking: Wednesday, May 15 ~ 6pm to 8pm
• Upcycling for Gardeners: Wednesday, May 22 ~ 2pm to 4:30pm

UPCOMING YOUTH CLASSES – AGES 2 to 6 with an adult

• Youth Art Adventures: Earth Day!: Monday, April 15 ~ 10am to 11am
• Youth Art Adventures: Nature Explorers: Saturday, May 18 ~ 10am to 11am

June classes open for registration on Wednesday, April 24 at 9am. Information and links for the classes below are coming soon.

JUNE ADULT CLASSES

• Upcycling: Mini Fabric Scrap Bowls: Tuesday, June 4 ~ 6pm to 7:30pm
• Paper Quilling: Summertime Florals: Saturday, June 15 ~ 2pm to 4:30pm

YOUTH CLASSES – AGES 2 to 6 with an adult

• Youth Art Adventures: Fun with Seeds: Friday, June 7 ~ 10am to 11am