Hi media friends! We're excited to share the news about the free summer festivals taking place at the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden and Pacific Bonsai Museum on June 22. On Saturday, June 22, all are welcomed to the garden for SummerFest from 10 am-4 pm, and then everyone is invited to the Pacific Bonsai Museum for Summer Bonsai Solstice from 4-8 pm. Thanks for taking a look at the attached press release below (and attached) and as always, please reach out to me any time with additional questions. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 5, 2024 Botanical garden hosts free summer festival in Federal Way SummerFest at the Garden, a free community festival, is planned for the first time at the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden June 22 in Federal Way. Federal Way - A colorful mix of summer blooms, live art demonstrations, family fun activities and an outdoor arts and crafts market is coming to the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden in Federal Way. The Rhody Garden, a 22-acre botanical oasis, will offer its first SummerFest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 22 to the Federal Way community. Attendees are invited to explore the garden on a sunny day, experience sweet fragrant plants in a pacific northwest native forest, shop in the arts and craft market on the Rutherford Conservatory terrace, take in a live sumi-e painting demonstration, then refresh and refuel with savory and sweet treats from food trucks. In line with its commitment to the Federal Way community, the garden is collecting food and other items for the Federal Way Multi-Service Center. Families who receive free and reduced meals at school struggle to find a way to replace those meals during school vacation months. The Rhody Garden aims to ease this burden by holding a "Fill the Food Bank" drive to fill the shelves of the Federal Way Food Bank. A list of recommended items to donate can be found on the SummerFest event webpage. Garden festivities conclude at 4 p.m., but the fun is just beginning next door at the Pacific Bonsai Museum during their annual Summer Bonsai Solstice event from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Visitors will experience the beauty of the woods and bonsai, have a stroll, meet up with friends, take a photo, and smell the fresh air of a summer evening. The event features Taichi and Qigong, yoga, bonsai demonstrations, food trucks, games and art activities, sound bathing, shopping, and more. Admission is free with a suggested donation of $12 for adults. Event details: SummerFest Time and Date: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, June 22 Location: Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden: 2525 S. 336th St. Federal Way, WA 98003 Event page: https://rhodygarden.org/events/summerfest Summer Bonsai Solstice Time and Date: 4 p.m. - 8 p.m., Saturday, June 22 Location: 2515 S. 336th St. Federal Way, WA 98003 Event page: https://pacificbonsaimuseum.org/events/a-bonsai-solstice-2024 Visitation details: The Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden and Pacific Bonsai Museum are located on the campus of the former Weyerhaeuser headquarters in Federal Way. Free Parking is available in the West Entry parking lot; wheelchair-accessible parking and passenger drop-off/pick-up is available at the garden and museum entrance. ### The Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden is a 22-acre woodland garden, home to the largest collection of Rhododendron species in the world. Visitors will experience a diverse botanical collection in a forest of Douglas fir, western red cedar, hemlock, and other native plants. The garden is also home to beautiful companion plants, including the famous Himalayan Blue Poppies, Camellias, Magnolias, Japanese maples, and many rare plants. Open year-round during visiting hours, our nursery sells many of the plants you'll see in the garden. Pacific Bonsai Museum is a captivating oasis where nature and art converge through the exquisite practice of bonsai. Nestled amidst a sprawling forest, Pacific Bonsai Museum offers a peaceful and contemplative experience unlike any other. As one of the few public collections worldwide solely dedicated to bonsai, Pacific Bonsai Museum showcases contemporary exhibitions, hosts docent-led group tours, provides educational programs, workshops, and much more. Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden Media Contact: Natalie Ries, Marketing & Outreach Manager 253-345-2515 natalie@rhodygarden.org<mailto:natalie@rhodygarden.org> Pacific Bonsai Museum Media Contact: Katherine Wimble Fox, Communications Director (253) 353-7345 katherine@pacificbonsaimuseum.org<mailto:katherine@pacificbonsaimuseum.org> Natalie Ries Marketing & Outreach Manager Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden 2525 S. 336th St., Federal Way, WA (253) 345-2515 [cid:image001.png@01DAB727.CBB86D80]<http://www.rhodygarden.org/> Website<https://rhodygarden.org/> | Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/RhodyGarden/> | Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/rhodygarden/>