What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm Saturday 9am - 5pm Sunday 9am - 5pm

East Texas Arboretum

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Athens, TX
East Texas Arboretum

The East Texas Arboretum is open seven days a week. There is a $8 entrance fee for adults. Our mission is to educate and celebrate our community through nature.

01/10/2025

Register for our Seed Starting workshop taking place on Saturday, January 18th at 11:00am. Sign up online at www.easttexasarboretum.org or call (903) 675-5630.

01/10/2025

At first glance, the gardens are pretty grey today, but when you slow down to smell the…winter honeysuckle, you will find some delights! Winter honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima) is native to Asia and provides a welcomed bloom in winter beginning as early as January.

01/09/2025

The Arboretum will be closed Thursday, January 9th due to the potentially dangerous road conditions. We will aim to reopen on Friday at 9am. Stay warm and stay safe!

01/07/2025

What cold?! A new season of homeschool classes are here and bundled up for chilly adventures in nature. Ok, so we did spend some time inside today, but a brief trip to the woods first got us inspired to learn about poetry in nature. Learn more about homeschool and field trips on our website at www.easttexasatboretum.org

01/07/2025

It’s time to get your spring garden seeds started! (Say that 3 times fast!) Join the Arboretum garden team as we learn the ins and outs of starting your favorite veggies from seeds. Register online at www.easttexasarboretum.org. Spaces are limited and all supplies are provided. Email [email protected] or call (903) 675-5630 for questions.

01/05/2025

It was a beautiful day (yesterday) for a shower! Congratulations to the happy couple! We are so thrilled when we get to be the background to a beautiful piece of your family history. Visit www.easttexasarboretum.org to learn more about our private rentals.

01/04/2025

Ok, ignore the leaves…or maybe don’t! Leaf pick up is a big topic among gardeners. There are pros and cons to leaving leaves in your beds.
👉Pro: decomposition of leaves increases nitrogen and organic nutrients in the soils
👉Pro: leaves provide protection for over wintering bugs and beneficial insects.
👉Con: they can be seen as unsightly
👉Con: they can foster mold if too wet and oxygen not able to get to the soil.

Come see and judge our leaves for yourself! The gardens and trails are open 7 days a week from 9:00am-5:00pm.
Www.easttexasarboretum.org

01/01/2025

Happy new year! The garden and trails are closed for New Year’s Day. We will reopen on Thursday, January 2nd.

12/27/2024

Night 11 of Holiday Lights in the garden starts at 6:00pm.
Join us Faith moly 2 nights left. Thank Santa for being on the nice list and get a jump on next year’s list. 🎅🏻

12/26/2024

We still have three nights left of holiday lights at the East Texas Arboretum! Join us to continue the celebration of Christmas and light up your holiday.
Thursday, December 26th 6:00pm-9:00pm.
Friday, December 27th 6:00pm-9:00pm
Saturday, December 28th 6:00pm-9:00pm

12/25/2024

Merry Christmas from the East Texas Arboretum! The garden and trails will be closed Wednesday, December 25th. We will reopen Thursday, December 26th for regular operations 9:00am-5:00pm and night 10 of Holiday Lights from 6:00pm-9:00pm.

12/21/2024

Night 9 of Holiday Lights is on the way!! We need to keep an extra close eye on our Christmas items as the Grinch will be present tonight. The Grinch is just in time for to serve their Grinch Lemonade!
See you tonight from 6:00pm-9:00pm. $20 per car ($40 for 10 passenger or larger vehicle).

12/21/2024

Hark! Hear the bells!🔔 🎄
Tonight at the East Texas Arboretum, a hand bell group will ring in some Christmas cheer. Join us from 6:00pm-9:00pm for a stroll in the garden.

12/18/2024

Extra! Extra!
The East Texas Arboretum LOVES our local thespians and they have done such a great job with the production of Elf as and ! We would love to tell you to see it but it’s SOLD OUT! 🤩 We wanted to give them a special night to come see Holiday Lights since they are performing on the days that we are open. Come visit the lights with their family and friends for a special pop-up opening of Holiday Lights in the garden at East Texas Arboretum, Wednesday, December 18th from 6:00pm-8:00pm. $20 a car.
See you soon!

12/18/2024

It is still Fall y’all! Winter doesn’t start until December 21st and our fall colors are still hanging on! We wish we had captured the colors of this acer(aka maple) last week, but she is still beautiful as her leaves put out their final boasts of red.
Red(acer’s version) 💃

12/15/2024

Did you know that the East Texas Arboretum is the perfect place for your event, recital, or meeting? We have indoor, outdoor, and outdoor covered options for every budget. Give us a call to rent your next event! (903) 675-5630

12/15/2024

The goodest of good pups have been to see Santa and explore Holiday Lights at the East Texas Arboretum. We love to welcome our well behaved best friends (on leashes). Some of them have asked Santa for treats and other have asked for butt-scratches! Regardless of their wish lists’ they have all made it to the nice list! 🐶🎅🏻
Holiday Lights will run each Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of December from 6:00pm-9:00pm. $20/car.

Address

1601 Patterson Road
Athens, TX
75751

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm
Saturday	9am - 5pm
Sunday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

(903) 675-5630

Website

http://www.easttexasarboretum.org/

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Videos

2024 was so good to the East Texas Arboretum because of YOU! Celebrating and educating our community through nature is why we exist. This year brought many joys and challenges, but our team, board, volunteers, and community was there. Here’s to growing in 2025 we can’t wait to explore with you! #easttexasarboretun #visitathenstx #easttexasgardening #easttexascommunity #easttexasnature #easttexas #happynewyear

Final night of Holiday Lights is TONIGHT! Join us for a stroll in the gardens. 6:00pm-9:00pm. $20 per car. What a perfect way to showcase Athens to your family and friends! #easttexasarboretum #visitathenstx #holidaylights #easttexaschristmaslights

Night 8 of Holiday Lights is getting started! TONIGHT join us as a hand bell performance dazzles the night with holiday carols. Grab a sweet and warm treat from @treehousecupcakes and stroll through the gardens. Gates are open 6:00pm-9:00pm. Santa is here! $20 per car. #easttexasarboretum #holidaylights #visitathenstx #etxchristmaslights #etxchristmas

Night 5 of Holiday Lights has begun! Join us from 6:00pm-9:00pm for holiday cheer in the gardens! $20 per car! Hot cocoa, Santa, movies and more! #easttexasarboretum #easttexaschristmaslights #easttexasholidays

Lite Brites, hot cocoa, and dancing snowflakes all await you at the East Texas Arboretum’s Holiday Lights! We are open every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 6:00pm-9:00pm (last entry at 8:00pm). $20 per car and make sure to see Santa too! #easttexaschristmas #easttexasarboretum #holidaylights

Holiday Lights open this week! Enjoy a stroll through the garden immersed in holiday decor and cheer. Entry is $20 per car from 6:00pm-8:00pm. Event ends at 9:00pm. #holidaylights #easttexasarboretum #easttexasholidays #easttexaschrisaslights #easttexasholidayevents #walkthroughlights

Bees are finishing up their foraging seasons. They have worked so hard over the year to build honey for us and them. We can show our love by bringing a bee to one last slurp of pollen. 🐝🖤💛 📷by Mattie #easttexasarboretum #easttexasgardening #eastTexasbeekeepers #hendersoncountybeekeeperassociation #fallflowers #fallpolinators

Love a dew blanketed field on a fall morning. 😍 #easttexasarboretum

Did we install fake flowers in the garden for our Holiday Lights event? 🤭 Yes. Yes, we did! Mark your calendars for Holiday lights at the East Texas Arboretum Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays in December from 6:00pm-9:00pm (last entry at 8:00pm). #holidaylights #visitathenstx #easttexasweekend #easttexasholidays #easttexaschristmaslights #christmaslights @klillymcd @fsbathens @etxelitedanceco @atmosenergy @ralston_outdoor_advertising @trinityvalleycc

Who is camouflaged almost perfectly on our Texas primrose?! This guy is so colorful yet blends in so well. 10/10 hide-n-seek skills. #gardencamoflage #catepillar #easttexaswildlife #easttexasgardening #easttexasarboretum

Gardens can be down right ghoulish! Our garden can seem haunted with never ending chores and pests. No matter the challenges, we love our garden and are happy to share it with you. Happy Halloween! 🎃 🍂😈👻 #happyhalloween #hauntedgarden #easttexasarboretum #visitathenstx #easttexasgardening