Monarchs & Marigolds

Monarchs & Marigolds is back at the Houston Botanic Garden on Sunday, October 11, from 9 AM to 4 PM. It's one of the garden's six annual festivals, and this one is built around Día de los Muertos, the Latin American holiday that honors family and friends who've passed away. The name comes from two of the holiday's symbols of remembrance: monarch butterflies and marigolds. You'll walk past thousands of marigolds on your way to the South Gardens, where vendors sell authentic Latin American arts and crafts and there are family-friendly craft projects to work on. The garden puts it on with MECA, and the day is meant to celebrate the past and honor the future through music, dance, and visual arts.

The schedule runs straight through from opening to close. It kicks off with the Mexico Folklorico Dance Ensemble from 9:30 to 10:30 AM, followed by a Xantolo workshop with Jackie Krienke from 10:30 to 11:30 AM. From 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM, the Ermelinda Cuellar Jazz Trio takes over, and MECA follows from 12:30 to 1:30 PM. In the afternoon, there's Kendama with Michael Martin from 1:30 to 2 PM, and entomologist Erin Mills leads a talk on monarch migration from 2 to 3 PM. Mariachi Rebelde closes it out from 3 to 4 PM.

Admission is $20 for adults and $16 for children, students, seniors, and military, and members get in at no additional charge. The 9 AM opening is recommended to beat the heat, and parking is free for daytime events, rain or shine. The whole thing takes place in the South Gardens at 8210 Park Place Boulevard.