Four weekends of holiday lights, trees, hayrides, s’mores & cocoa & SANTA begin the day after Thanksgiving featuring a huge fresh-cut lighted fir tree; and “Emerald Forest” with an 18-foot inner-lit tree of green plastic bottles plus four smaller ones created by environmental artist Shelia Rogers! Perfect for friends, family, date-night, holiday house-guests. Fridays & Saturdays, 5:30-7:30 pm, Nov 27/28, Dec 4/5, 11/12, 18/19. Come early for Conservatories, Gardens and Gift Shop! SEE MORE for details and fun photos.

The “EXPLORE MORE BY H-E-B TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS” program provides free admission to the Botanical Gardens & Nature Center FRIDAYS in November and December, beginning November 6! This support aims to promote educational experiences and cultural arts by providing local families and visitors ways to enjoy attractions during the holidays. H-E-B remains committed to making educational enrichment and discovery more accessible—when it comes to Texans helping Texans, learning should be within everyone’s reach. “Explore More” also includes three other local museums.

South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center invites the public to celebrate H-E-B’s Texas Recycles Day, November 13, 14 & 15. Each visitor who brings a plastic bottle or single-use plastic bag from any retailer receives FREE ADMISSION that day to the Botanical Gardens, normally a $12 value for adults! Start saving your bags and bottles now, bring as many as you like to help us win the $1000 Gift Card for volume/weight! Enjoy the Gardens in fall bloom and learn how H-E-B has recycled 50 million pounds of plastic bags since 2004!

MOONLIGHT MAGIC in the GARDENS entertained close to 600 people who dined, danced, drank, bid and saw the Gardens during a “magical” relaxing evening, Friday, October 9! The Botanical Gardens thanks Presenting Sponsor CITGO, plus dozens of supporting sponsors on large signs in the Gardens until MOOONLIGHT ‘27! Click to SEE MORE for those generous sponsors, entertainers, our Event Chairs, restaurant and beverage sponsors. . . with new Moonlight SLIDE SHOW now up!

PRIVATE ENCOUNTERS are now more fun, more personal with more learning! Small groups can enjoy fun interactions with either parrots, reptiles or both, with guests holding each animal, giving them snacks, taking photos in a private setting. A great party, birthday, anniversary, or friend treat! Fees go to our Veterinary Fund!

For your convenience, we’re providing a schedule of SATURDAY MORNING Horticulture & Environmental Education classes! All except BONSAI, begin at 9:30 am, Education Station classroom, with spaced seating for 40. Unless noted, all are covered by that day’s general admission, membership, or $5 each. Educational, fun, meet new friends. Make your reservation at 361-852-2100.

This is a first! The Botanical Gardens is looking for VOLUNTEERS to work with Grounds Staff helping with daily hand-watering, mowing, weeding, edging! Coastal rains made the grass grow, and watering restrictions still make us hand-water! We’ll work with your schedule, except (watering must be done before 10 am), other work between 9 and 6. Please call Kathie for details, 361-852-2100, x 225.

Guests visiting Saturdays or Sundays are treated to REP-TALES,10:30 am, on the Festival Lawn. Meet and learn about some our Reptile Animal Ambassadors including tortoises, iguanas, snakes and other creatures (specific animal ambassadors and species vary daily). Included with membership or general admission. Feed these reptiles for additional fee.