About the Orchid Festival

April 5 & 6, 2025
9am – 4pm

Welcome to Bonnet House’s 16th Annual International Orchid & Garden Festival. Bonnet House was once the winter residence of Evelyn Fortune Bartlett and her husband, Frederic Clay Bartlett. Both Evelyn and Frederic were artists, and when you visit the Main House, you will see a collection of their paintings. Orchids play an important part in Bonnet House’s history as growing them was a favorite hobby of Evelyn’s. Many of Mrs. Bartlett’s plants are still here at Bonnet House and form the heart of the museum’s collection. That shows that with the right care, these plants can live for many years. You have come to the right spot to learn more about orchids and to find beautiful new specimens to add to your collection. Be sure to visit the Orchid Display House (part of the Shell Museum Complex) to see a sampling of Evelyn’s collection.

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Festival Photos

Event Features

Orchid and Exotic Plants: Featuring over 30 local and international vendors including tropicals, fruit trees, butterfly garden plants, bamboo, garden art, and much more. All on the 35-acre historic Bonnet House Estate on Fort Lauderdale Beach.
Edible Bites: Food vendors throughout the property offering edible bites.
Bloody Marys, Mimosa, Wine & Beer: Enjoy an invigorating mixture as you wander through the garden.
Live Music – Live music on the Dry Fountain at the end of the Allée.
Tropical Luau Lunch – Our Tropical Luau Lunch with live Tahitian music and Hula dancers on the beautifully decorated waterfront Veranda. A fully catered affair.
Orchid Supplies: Vendors to provide all you need to plant and grow orchids.
Garden Art: Attractive and unusual orchid and/or garden-related items from several vendors.
Orchid & Garden Interactive Lectures in the Island Theater: Meet outside the gift shop 10 minutes before the scheduled time to walk over together.
Saturday, April 5: 10:30 – 11:30 am ~ Developing an Orchid Collection with Jurad Kojš,
11.30 am – 12:30 pm ~ Growing Vanilla Orchids with Julieta Ross, a Florida Master Gardener, and horticulture volunteer at Bonnet House.
12:30 – 1:30 pm ~ Growing Catasetum Orchids with Jim Davison, an AOS accredited judge, specializes in Catasentinae, Florida natives, and collectible species and hybrids.
1:30 – 2:30 pm ~ Growing Grammathophyllum Orchids with Mac Rivenbark is a long-time South Florida orchid grower and seller specializing in Philippine and other Asian species.
Sunday, April 6: 10:30 – 11:30 am ~ How to Grow Vanda Orchids with Segundo Cuesta, and his wife, Yolanda, they started hybridizing orchids in 1984, and they specialize in Art Shaped Cattleyas and in cloning old standards.
11:30 am – 12:30 pm ~ Creating a Butterfly Garden with Julieta Ross, a Florida Master Gardener, and horticulture volunteer at Bonnet House.
12:30 – 1:30 pm ~ How to Grow Cattleya Orchids with Lou Lodyga; experienced orchid grower; American Orchid Society judge; and member, and former president, of Coalition for Orchid Species.
1:30 – 2:30 pm ~ Orchid Growing on Your Balcony or Terrace with Barbara Jasko.
Self-guided tours of the House and Grounds: Stroll through the grounds and house at your leisure and experience the charm and beauty of the Bonnet House Estate.
Rest Areas: Where you can sit and relax in the shade.
Bonnet House Museum Shop: Near the main house, offers a unique choice of interesting books, jewelry, and an array of gift items.
Free Parking – Click here for Frequently Asked Questions about the Festival.

Admission is $25 for one day
(Rain or Shine)
Early bird daily admission by March 15th, pay only $20.

Includes Orchid Festival and Self-Guided House and Grounds Tour.
Children 12 & under are Free. No Discounts or Group Rates Apply.
There will be no guided house tours during the festival weekend.

Admission is $100 for the Tropical Luau Lunch and includes festival & house admission.

Purchase Festival Tickets Purchase Tropical Luau Lunch Tickets

All ticket sales are final and non-refundable.

Our Very Popular Tropical Luau Lunch on the Veranda

Saturday, April 5th & Sunday, April 6th | 11:30 AM– 1:30 PM
Enjoy a fully catered affair on the beautifully decorated waterfront veranda during the 16th Annual International Orchid & Garden Festival. Lunch tickets include a delectable tropical buffet, unlimited Mai tais, wine & beer, live Tahitian music and Hula dancers, as well as access to the house for a leisurely stroll through the rooms and Orchid Display House. Tickets also include access to the Festival and orchid & garden care demonstrations. Tropical Luau Lunch on the Veranda Tickets: $100

Free parking – Limited parking is available onsite at 900 N. Birch Rd. Additional parking is available at 2900 NE 9th Court behind the 7-11. Our pedestrian-only south entrance is located at 750 Breakers Avenue off Vista Mar Street and will also be open for walk-in attendees.

Purchase Luau Lunch Tickets

All ticket sales are final and non-refundable.