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The annual Garden Day celebration, marking its 11th edition this year, invites people to dedicate time to gardens and green spaces. This can be as simple as a gathering at home, or visiting one of the participating venues in the Cape. This year's theme is 'From Garden to Table: Grow, Gather, Celebrate,' highlighting the connection between harvest and what ends up on the plate.

The spirit of Garden Day is intentionally broad, as the official program encourages people to celebrate in any accessible green space—be it a private garden, balcony, public park, picnic spot, or organized event.

For those wishing to make it a full day, various locations are being prepared across the Western Cape that combine gardening, culinary arts, art, and nature.

Among these venues is Babylonstoren, where the garden is central to a program dedicated to edibles, floral crowns, tastings, live music, and various activities across the farm. According to the current schedule, the Garden Day celebration will take place on October 18th from 09:00 to 15:00, with standard garden entry costing R190 per person.

For visitors wishing to extend the day with dinner, Babylonstoren is hosting a joint event by Chef Shalika Vlok and Horrell & Horrell. This evening, scheduled from 17:30 to 22:00, will feature seasonal ingredients and produce from the Babylonstoren garden and farm. The menu will be presented as an overnight collaboration, starting with aperitifs and canapés, followed by a sequence of seated dishes. Tickets for this event cost R2,950 per person.

This collaboration is part of a wider Garden Day weekend at Babylonstoren, which also includes a bonfire dinner by Vlok & Horrell on Friday, October 16th.

In Stellenbosch, the Dylan Lewis Sculpture Park will open its grounds for Garden Day, offering guests the option to explore the garden independently or join a guided tour. Part of this experience will be a floral crown-making station located among the blooming Dombeya rotundifolia trees. The event is scheduled from 08:30 to 16:00, with entry fees of R280 for adults, R160 for seniors and students. Advance booking is required.

At Boschendal, Garden Day will focus on the Werf food garden and the processes behind cultivating and maintaining a productive landscape. A four-hour experience, running from 10:00 to 14:00, will guide visitors through five practical and educational stations covering topics such as waste, soil, seeds, and cultivation. Ticket prices are R600 for adults and R50 for children under 12.

Garden Day also has a creative component, with events planned in Cape Town for those who prefer a more hands-on activity. Backyard Cafe will host a flower pressing workshop, combining mindfulness meditation with seasonal flowers, refreshing drinks, and flower preservation instructions. Participants will also receive a Velt flower press to take home. The workshop runs from 10:00 to 12:30 and costs R1,300 per person, with an optional fynbos floral crown for an additional R160. Meanwhile, Veld & Sea will run a spring flower workshop from 11:00 to 14:00, which includes a garden walk, edible flower education, botanical drinks, floral crown making, and a spring brunch. This service costs R950 per person.

Or, you can host your own Garden Day. For those who prefer to avoid organized events, Garden Day requires no strict plan. A picnic under the trees, lunch with friends, an afternoon in the botanical garden, or simply tending to a few plants can be part of the celebration.

In Cape Town and its surroundings, the Winelands offer green spaces ranging from historic gardens and botanical collections to sculptural gardens, farms, and landscape cultural sites, providing residents with numerous ways to mark the day without needing to book an event.

The official Garden Day program also encourages people to share their celebrations using the hashtag #GardenDaySA, creating a public record of how different communities are celebrating the occasion.

For a more informal celebration on Garden Day, several well-known spots offer gardens or landscapes worth visiting. The historic Chart Farm in Wynberg features a rose garden and offers a quieter urban green escape.

The Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in Newlands provides another distinctly Cape landscape with extensive plant collections and a treetop walkway over Boomslang trees, offering a different perspective on gardens. The Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden, located in the center of Stellenbosch, combines diverse plant collections and is an accessible option for visitors already exploring the city.

Norval Foundation in Steenburg blends contemporary art, sculpture, and landscaped gardens, allowing visitors to combine a garden visit with a cultural outing. In Boschendal, in the Cape Winelands, the landscaped gardens surrounding its iconic cathedral are complemented by the broader rural scenery of the Waaihoek mountains.

Whether one plans a long-table dinner, a flower-pressing workshop, a farm visit, or a quiet day outdoors, Garden Day 2026 offers many ways to engage with the gardens and landscapes of the Cape.

For those planning ahead, the official Garden Day website publishes events and provides further information on how to participate. Since the main celebration date falls on Sunday, October 18th, visitors are advised to check individual venue websites regarding booking requirements, availability, and any changes before attending.