PLEASE NOTE: This event has already occurred.
Date/Time
Date(s) - 05/01/2026
5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Location
Allerton Park and Retreat Center
Categories
Celebrate spring at the Bluebell Festival on May 1-3! This festive community event will feature our visitor-favorite Plant Sale Fundraiser (May 1-3), Spring Market (May 2), live music, Folk School classes (see schedule below), food (food trucks + Greenhouse Café), drinks and more!
Friday, May 1 will feature the opening of the annual Plant Sale Fundraiser from 5 to 8 p.m., along with live music, food trucks and a bar. For a special treat, make reservations for Supper Club* in the Mansion Friday evening!
The fun continues Saturday, May 2 with the Plant Sale (9 a.m.-5 p.m.), food trucks (9 a.m.-5 p.m.), and the Spring Market (11 a.m.-5 p.m.) in the Mansion – featuring goods for sale, demonstrations from our fabulous Folk School instructors, live music and a cash bar!
Wrap up your weekend Sunday, May 4 with Blooming Breakfast in the Mansion (9-10:30 a.m.) and the Plant Sale (10 a.m.-4 p.m.).
No registration is required to attend the Bluebell Festival. Some activities, noted with an asterisk, require separate registration and space is limited.
Bluebell Festival Schedule (Subject to change.)
Friday, May 1
5-8 p.m. Plant Sale Fundraiser + Bar + Food trucks (Gatehouse Lawn); Greenhouse Café open
5-10 p.m. Bar (Mansion)
6-8 p.m. Live Music by Appaloosa (Gatehouse Lawn); BYO chair or blanket
6-9 p.m. Supper Club* (Mansion)
Saturday, May 2
9 a.m.-5 p.m. Plant Sale Fundraiser (Gatehouse Lawn)
9 a.m.-5 p.m. Food Trucks (Main Parking Lot); Greenhouse Café open
10-11 a.m. Formal Garden Tour*
11 a.m.-5 p.m. Spring Market (Mansion)
11 a.m.-10 p.m. Bar (Mansion)
12-12:30 p.m. *A Taste of Tarot
12-2 p.m. Live Music by The Sweet Nothings (Koi Pond/Solarium Terrace)
2-2:30 p.m. Hive Visit
2-3 p.m. *Plant Your Planter
3-3:30 p.m. *Watercolor Techniques
6 p.m.-8 p.m. Live Music by Wildwood String Band (Koi Pond/Solarium Terrace)
Sunday, May 3
9 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Blooming Breakfast* (Mansion)
9 a.m.-5 p.m. Greenhouse Café open
10-11 a.m. Stretch ‘n Sip Yoga* (Bowling Lawn)
10 a.m.-12 p.m. Kokedama Workshop
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Plant Sale Fundraiser (Gatehouse Lawn)
1-4 p.m. Intro to Mosaic Art: Bluebells* (The Studio) SOLD OUT
*Requires separate registration. Space is limited.
*Requires separate registration. Space is limited. Click here for more details.
If you need disability-related accommodations to participate, please email Olivia Bunting at owarren@illinois.edu.
Please remember that events may be canceled or rescheduled last minute due to unpredictable weather or other factors. We encourage you to reach out to event organizers before heading out to an event to verify it is still happening.
