Waterlily Weekend

Name: Waterlily Weekend
Start: 2026-08-30T09:00:00-04:00
End: 2026-08-30T14:00:00-04:00

August 30 @ 9:00 am – 2:00 pm

The Garden curates a growing collection of waterlilies with nearly 300 diverse specimens on display throughout our many aquatic gardens. This two-day festival on August 29 & 30 from 9am – 2pm will celebrate these water nymphs with special tours, demonstrations, and more when these blooming beauties are at their peak.

*Due to the popularity of this event, we are temporarily pausing our Dogs in the Garden program on Sunday, August 30. The program will resume the following Tuesday. Visit this page for more details.

Schedule of Events

Activities, Displays & Demonstrations

Waterlily Weekend Photo Competition Display
9am – 2pm
Kapnick Hall

Self-Guided Nature Journaling
9am – 2pm
Kapnick Hall

Victoria Waterlily Encounter
9:30 – 10am & 12:30 – 1pm
The Hoffmann Lawn

Meet the Curator: Waterlily Weigh-Off and Talk
10 – 10:30am & 11:30am – 12pm
The Hoffmann Lawn

WONDER: Floating Flora
10am – 1pm
The Hoffmann Lawn

Drop-In Nature Journaling Demonstration
10am – 2pm
Kapnick Hall

Specialty Tours & Programs

Program: Walk Among the Waterlilies

9am

Immerse yourself—literally—in our aquatic collections during this special guided opportunity! Discover how to capture nature with your smartphone camera before wading into the Water Garden for an up-close-and-personal view of our waterlilies with our Curator of Special Collections.

$65 Member / $85 Non-Member

Registration Coming Soon

Become a Member and Save!

Specialty Guided Tour: Waterlilies & Beyond

11am & 12pm

Look beyond the flowers of the waterlilies and aquatic plants in our collection to discover the hidden role they play in our everyday lives. Check in with Visitor Services at Ticketing before meeting your guide at the Smith Entry Prow.

$10 Member / $15 Non-Member; Register at Ticketing upon arrival or add a tour to your Garden admission reservation by following the link below.

Purchase Garden Admission

Included with Garden admission; free for Members. Every Garden admission ticket or membership purchase helps to support Naples Botanical Garden’s conservation efforts.

Waterlily Weekend Photography Competition

Naples Botanical Garden is inviting amateur photographers to submit photos for its annual Waterlily Photo Competition to coincide with Waterlily Weekend on August 29 & 30. Winning photographs will be printed for display during the two-day festival and first place winners in each category will receive a one-year complimentary Family & Friends level membership to Naples Botanical Garden.

IMPORTANT DATES

Entry Deadline: Tuesday, July 21
Winners Notified: Friday, July 31
Waterlily Weekend Winners’ Display: August 29 & 30, 9am – 2pm

Learn More & Submit

Open to all amateur photographers.
Garden staff, volunteers, and/or contracted staff are not eligible for entry.
Photographs that have been awarded First, Second, or Third place in previous Waterlily Weekend Photography Competitions may not be submitted.
AI-generated artwork will not be accepted.
All photos submitted to Naples Botanical Garden must be original and free of copyright infringements.