EVENTS
Botanical gardens are evolving into vibrant cultural destinations—places where lush landscapes, creativity, and connection come together. At McKee Botanical Garden, this transformation is in full bloom. Through innovative exhibitions, engaging programs, and immersive experiences, we invite you to see nature and the arts in a new light—and to discover the joy they bring when they flourish side by side.
- Tuesdays | October 7th – April 28th
- 10:30AM
Details
Join a guided stroll through McKee’s historic garden every Tuesday and discover the remarkable story behind this tropical oasis. Learn how plant explorers brought back exotic specimens in 1926, which landscape architect William Lyman Phillips wove into his visionary design, and how the garden’s architectural icons came to be. Hear how Vero’s first visitor attraction was saved from development, meticulously restored and reopened as the beloved community treasure it is today. Not intended for groups or school tours.
- Sunday, November 2, 9, 16, and 23
- Noon to 3:00 pm
Details
Savor a Sunday in paradise at McKee’s Jungle Brunch – for four Sundays in November enjoy a tropical feast under the oak canopy surrounded by the lush beauty of Florida’s most enchanting, historic garden. Enjoy mimosas, bananas foster French toast, quiche & McKee garden salad, and Sexton shrimp & grits plus many other Jungle Brunch items for adults and children.
- Wednesday, December 3rd – Tuesday, December 30th, January 2nd and 3rd
- 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Advanced Tickets on Sale Now
Details
Now in its 19th year, McKee’s all-new and expanded glittering holiday light display will lead visitors through six distinct areas of the historic jungle, each evoking a different region of the Amazon Jungle. Inspired by plant explorers of a century ago, JUNGLE LIGHTS blends rainforest sights and sounds with the magic of the season for an unforgettable holiday adventure. Members will be invited to preview JUNGLE LIGHTS on Tuesday, December 2nd. The holiday lights adventure opens to the public on Wednesday, December 3rd.
Advanced Tickets on Sale Now
2025 JUNGLE LIGHTS SPONSORS
JUNGLE ILLUMINATUS
The Family of Arthur G. McKee
PLANT EXPLORERS
John and Kathy Harris
JUNGLE SONUS
John’s Island Real Estate
HOLIDAY LUMINARIAS
Cooksey Gould Fennell
Florida Power & Light
Piper Aircraft
Rossway Swan Tierney Barry & Oliver
Jim and Jean Ueltschi
Wilmington Trust
- Saturday, January 17th through Sunday, May 24, 2026
Details
FLORIGAMI IN THE GARDEN – McKee’s Centennial Exhibition
Saturday, January 17 through Sunday, May 24, 2026
FLORIGAMI IN THE GARDEN is a monumental outdoor sculpture exhibition by Santa Fe artists Jennifer and Kevin Box. The show presents a fresh look at paper folding in the 21st century with large-scale, origami-inspired metal sculptures. Emerging butterflies, big birds, grazing deer, and blooming flowers all celebrate the process of plant pollination. The colorful, whimsical and kinetic sculptures were created in collaboration with modern masters of paper folding: Te Jui Fu, Robert J. Lang, Michael G. LaFosse and Beth Johnson.
- Saturday, February 14th
- 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Convertibles, Roadsters, Hot Rods, Racers & Motorcycles
Details
McKee’s Annual Motor Car Exhibition is one of the most anticipated traditions, drawing car collectors, enthusiasts, and families alike. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of McKee’s historic landscape, the exhibition showcases an extraordinary array of classic, antique, and modern vehicles – both foreign and domestic. This family-friendly event delights crowds each year, blending automotive artistry with the beauty of nature in one unforgettable experience.
- Wednesday, March 4th
- 8:15 AM until 6:30 PM
Details
In last year’s first road trip to the Palm Beaches, we learned there is tremendous interest in an organized trip south, which includes a visit to the Annual Kips Bay Decorator Show House, a stop at a fine-jewelry studio, before a lunch at a popular lunch spot, followed by a private garden tour and a visit to the Norton Museum of Art for The Garden Conservancy’s Annual Featured Garden Speaker. We’ll organize this again and welcome you to join us. The itinerary will be refined as we get closer. The day’s fun is unlimited; however, space will be limited. Invitations will be mailed in January.
By Invitation for Gatekeepers of McKee.
- Saturday, May 9th
- 10:00 AM until 3:00 PM
Details
Few days are as joyful and fun at McKee as the annual Pirate & Fairy Festival. Children of all ages are welcome to dress in their fairy finest or swashbuckling best for a day full of games, make and take crafts, entertainment and fairy hair applications.
- Saturday, June 13th
- 8:30 AM until 5:00 PM
Details
Waterlilies have enchanted visitors at McKee since 1932. Admire over 100 varieties—51 of which are part of the prestigious “Certified Collection of Excellence”, a distinction held by only eight gardens worldwide. Enjoy photo contests, plein-air artists, re-potting demos, and specialty vendors during this colorful celebration.