Summer Breeze
courtesy Olbrich Gardens
A person tossing a bean bag during a past Summer Breeze event.
media release: Olbrich Botanical Gardens and Garver Events are teaming up to throw a Summer Breeze block party! Join us for two nights filled with pop-up artmaking activities, classic lawn games, dance parties, and local food cart fare.
Sugar Ave, the bike/pedestrian pathway linking the Gardens to Garver, will transform into a neighborhood block party vibe featuring picnic tables, a variety of food carts, and live music hosted by Garver. This area of the block party festivities is free to attend, food & beverages available for purchase. Grab a bite, enjoy some live music, and then head into Olbrich Gardens to continue the party!
Support your public garden along with the featured artists/musicians by paying a nominal admission fee at the Gardens' entrance - then sip on a cocktail/mocktail as you stroll the Gardens with your sweetheart, play a round of bocce or badminton, encounter pop-up performers, and create botanically based art. The evening concludes with a curated story slam on the Great Lawn surrounded by the lush beauty of the Gardens. Come up soak up the sun, feel the warm summer breeze, and make some memories!
Find much more info at https://www.olbrich.org/calendar/summer-breeze.
LIVE MUSIC & PERFORMERS: Join in for karaoke during set breaks with Karaoke Always Works, an open mic/busking experience which created by a couple local comics!
Friday 4 PM Zerxio Musica, solo guitar
5 PM Hitterz Collective, hip-hop dance: The Hitterz Collective LLC is more than a dance company—it's a movement rooted in rhythm, resilience, and representation. Founded in Madison, Wisconsin, we exist to amplify Black artistry, foster healing through movement, and build inclusive creative communities that honor the legacy and future of street dance.
6 PM Marcus Porter, family friendly rap: Marcus Porter is a Madison, Wisconsin–based artist, producer, and founder of Born To Dream. Blending hip-hop, soul, indie, and R&B influences, his music is rooted in introspective storytelling, purpose, and real-life experience.
Saturday
4 PM One Sound Drum Circle: A popular community rhythm group in Madison, Wisconsin, led by facilitator Elmore Lawson. It is highly accessible, welcoming to all skill levels
5 PM Marcus Porter
6 PM Zerxio Musica
Inside the Garden Gates!
4:00 - 7:00 PM Art Making Workshops; Live Chalk Art Performances; Dessert Food Carts (available for purchase) - Frios Pops & Crepuw (crepes); Classic Lawn Games; DJ dance party (Friday is Audifax; Saturday is Cooper Talbot); Live Music in Thai Sala by Def Sonic
7:00 - 8:00 PM Story Slam with Dr. Danielle Hairston Green, a prominent Madison-based storyteller and educator. The year's story slam theme: Sunburned and Glowing. Six storytellers will be selected in advance to present their story. Plus a limited number of on-the-spot storytelling opportunities each night - names will be drawn by the host at 7 p.m.
Admission at the Garden Gates
$15 - General Admission
$12 - Olbrich Members
FREE - Ages 12 & under
Purchase tickets in advance online or at the doors starting at 4 p.m. on June 12 & 13!
Gardens close early at 2 p.m. to prepare for the Summer Breeze Block Party and reopen at 4 p.m.
Google
Yahoo
Outlook
ical