Clarkia Flower Festival

Missed this event? We’ve got you covered! Join us for the 2026 Clarkia Flower Festival on May 16.

Join the UCLA Mathias Botanical Garden on May 17 and celebrate nature with a day of fun activities connecting you to your community!

About Clarkia Flower Festival:

This inaugural annual event is more than just a festival; it represents a significant step toward fostering community spirit, celebrating nature, and supporting local organizations. With engaging activities for all ages, the festival is a powerful platform to connect participants with the environment, share knowledge about sustainability, and create lasting memories. 

Event Highlights:

• Tables from local organizations
• Nature Walks
• Engaging talks and activities about nature
• Delicious food trucks
• A fun beer garden
• Live music
• Arts and crafts for everyone

Opening Ceremony:

Jewell Terrace

10 AM: Blessing Ceremony by Chief Anthony Redblood Morales of the San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians, Gabrieleno-Tongva Tribal Council

Speakers:

La Kretz Garden Pavilion

11 AM: Clarkia Research Past, Present, and Future: An Evolutionary and Ecological Tour of One of California’s Most Charismatic Genera by Dr. Kate Eisen from Loyola Marymount University

12 PM: Gather and Weave: Artistic Expressions with Plants and Fibers by UCLA Professor, Dr. Theresa Ambo and UCLA alumni (co 2008) Todd Ambo, enrolled member of the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians, Acjachemen Nation

1 PM: Changing Behavior in Changing Cities: Shifting Trends in Urban Bird Behavior Across Seasons and Cityscapes with UCLA Ornithology Researchers Suu Zhou and Joey Di Liberto

Activities:

• Paper Poppy Mobile Activity

Park’s Patio from 11 AM to 1 PM

Presented by: The Fowler Museum at UCLA

• Herbarium Open House

Botany Building from 12 PM to 2 PM

• BioQuest: iNaturalist Activity

Desert Garden at 11:30 AM and 2 PM

• Botanical Illustration Activity

La Kretz Garden Pavilion from 2 PM to 4 PM

• Spring Plant Pageant: A Celebration of Botanical Beauty and Evolutionary Oddities

Park’s Patio from 11 AM to 3 PM

• Garden Tours will be held every hour starting at 10:30 AM with our last tour at 2:30 PM

Starting at La Kretz Garden Pavilion

Live Music:

Outdoor Amphitheater

Presented by: UCLA Radio

10:30-11:15: Evergreen

11:30-12:15: Emmanuelle

12:30-1:15: Fine Print

1:30-2:15: Becca

2:30-3:15: Dakota Dry

3:30-4:15: Short Skirt

Food Vendors:

• The Taco Cartel
• Ciao Bella
• DD’s Chick and Cat Shack
• Sunseri’s Bar and Beverage Catering

Community Partners:

• Theodore Payne Foundation
• Gabrieleno-Tongva Tribal Council
• Gabrielino-Tongva Springs Foundation
• Save the Vireo
• Los Angeles Public Library
• Citizens for LA Wildlife
• Friends of the LA River
• National Wildlife Federation
• TAWA Compost
• The Xerces Society
• Bruin Birding Club
• California Public Interest Research Group
• UCLA cityLAB
• UCLA Botanical Club
• Tree People
• LARC
• The Growing Works
• The Green Team
• LA Works
• Project Phoenix
• Climate Designers LA
• North East Trees

Special thanks to our sponsors, UCLA Department of Life Sciences, the W Los Angeles and Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsay Horvath

Special thanks to our UCLA partners: UCLA Radio, Sage Hill, and The Fowler Museum at UCLA

Parking Information:

Visit this link for more information about visitor parking and an interactive map of parking lots on campus.

In addition to the parking options featured on the map, the Ralphs located on Weyburn also offers two hour parking validation with purchase inside.