Art in the Gardens

August 1 and 2

Doors open at 11:00 AM — festivities until 5:00 PM

on the MCBG Event Lawn

The 33rd annual Art in the Gardens returns to Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens on Saturday, August 1, and Sunday, August 2, bringing together creative expression, peak summer blooms, and coastal beauty for one unforgettable weekend on the Mendocino Coast.

During this major summer fundraiser, the Gardens transform into a vibrant open-air celebration featuring more than 50 artists showcasing ceramics, jewelry, photography, woodwork, and more. The heart of the celebration takes place on the Event Lawn, where you can enjoy live music and entertainment all weekend long. This year's lineup includes Mama Grows Funk, SHUGA, CircusMecca, La Onda, and Wendy DeWitt—The Queen of Boogie Woogie. Savor delicious offerings from local food vendors alongside craft brews and regional wines, available by the glass or through an all-day tasting experience that includes a complimentary commemorative glass.

Beyond the Event Lawn, sculptures dot the landscape while sweeping Pacific views and spectacular dahlia displays create a stunning backdrop throughout the weekend. Wander from artist booths to garden paths, and ocean overlooks, taking in seasonal highlights including dazzling dahlias, begonias, vibrant perennials, and the Gardens’ organic demonstration vegetable garden. Whether you are discovering a new favorite artist, finding a one-of-a-kind treasure, or simply enjoying a summer day on the coast with family and friends, Art in the Gardens is a celebration you will not want to miss.

This beloved community tradition and key fundraiser supports the nonprofit Gardens’ mission to conserve plants and create meaningful connections between people, plants, and place. We are in need of sponsors to partner with us in this celebration of creative expression, gorgeous gardens, music, food, and drink that attracts as many as 2,500 guests each year! Please take a look at our 2026 Sponsorship & Underwriting Opportunities.

MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT

Saturday, August 1

11:00 AM to 12:15 PM SHUGA

12:30 PM to 2:45 PM Circus Mecca

3:00 PM to 5:00 PM Wendy DeWitt – The Queen of Boogie Woogie

Sunday, August 2

11:00 AM to 1:00 PM La Onda

1:15 PM to 12:15 PM Shabaldano Pomo Dancers

2:30 PM to 5:00 PM Mama Grows Funk

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS

2026 Featured Artist – Oil pastel painter Jacquelyn Cisper

Aaron Johnson . Acorn and Kelp . Alyssa Snodgrass Art . Andrea Allen

Annemarie Brentrup . Antoinette Ascencio . Art Explorers Inc. . Bob Biek

Celine Gerakin . Color Wheel Art Studio . Cowboy Cat Ceramics

Cozy Cottage Pottery . Denise DeLuise Glass Art . Dia Kimm Art Glass

Doran Handmade Jewelry . *Eleanor Harvey . Ene Bender . Erin Rose Prints

Fairy Trading Co. . Flockworks . Forest and Farm Soapworks . Go Send Love

Granite Mountain Arts . Hand Blown Glass Art . *Hilary Eddy . Inger Arts

*John Fisher . John Hewitt . Just Ducky Mosaics . *Laura Pope . Littlecup Letterpress

Lotus Printworks . Majestic Ceramics . Mark Maker’s Quarterly . Marvelous Made

Marybeth Kampman . MCBG Wooden Signs . Mendocino Garden Creations

Mendocino Queen Honey . Mendocino Tileworks . MendoMadrone Woodturning

Michael Racho . Mi Distinctive Tastes . Misty Leppard . Odin’s Organics

Pacific Textile Arts . Paul Ruiz-Lopez . Petcharee Tamawong . Peter Bailey Designs

Pícaro Gordo Woodcuts . Piston Leatherworks . Pomo Elementz . Puzzle People

Renegade Botanicals . *Sandy Oppenheimer . Scott Sewell Photography

Sedoo’s Redos . Shaly Borgen . Susan Kay Barnes . Terri Williams

Tess McGuire Hatmaker . Water and Stone Home

*Previously Featured Artists

2026 FEATURED ARTIST

Jacquelyn Cisper

Jacquelyn Cisper lives in Fort Bragg, CA, where she works as a full-time artist across a wide variety of media, from oil pastel, gouache, acrylic, and oil painting to up-cycled clothing, ceramics, creative writing, cooking, and more.

From earliest childhood, she had a fascination with paint, clay, fabric, anything that might be used to create. She became serious about painting, particularly at the age of 11, when she joined a plein-air painting group in Medford, OR.

Jacquelyn graduated from Pacific Union College in Angwin, CA, in 2003 with a double major in Fine Art and English: Writing. In 2004, she received a Post Graduate Degree in Fine Art from Burren College of Art in Ballyvaughan, Ireland. Since then, she has been involved in the art communities of Mendocino and Fort Bragg, CA, and Toledo and Newport, OR. She has exhibited publicly since 1994 and is currently represented in multiple locations.

Jacquelyn has been a full-time resident of the Mendocino Coast since 2008. Before that, she vacationed here every summer with her family, so she has known the beaches, forests, boats, and buildings her whole life.

Represented at

Glassfire Gallery, Fort Bragg, CA . Sportsman’s Park Gallery and Gifts, Fort Bragg, CA . Pacific Pearl, Fort Bragg, CA . Goodlife, Mendocino, CA . Main Street Gallery, Weaverville, CA

Find Jacquelyn on Facebook and Instagram | Contact the artist

2026 FEATURED ART

Dancing Frogs by Jacquelyn Cisper

Acrylic on wood | 32" x 24" | $375

Dancing Frogs by Jacquelyn Cisper is an acrylic painting on a stained wooden board that celebrates the joy, wonder, and beauty found in nature's smallest details. Inspired by the artist's love of the forest and fascination with mushrooms, the piece captures the whimsical charm of these often-overlooked woodland treasures. Featuring vibrant amanita mushrooms and playful frogs, the painting evokes delight and curiosity. Through rich color, texture, and imagination, Jacquelyn invites viewers to slow down and appreciate the magic that thrives beneath the forest canopy.

Event Tickets

Tickets are now available online and at the Gardens. We highly recommend getting your tickets in advance to ensure availability. Event tickets will be available online until 8:00 AM on the day of the event, at which point they will be sold at the door if we have not reached capacity.

GET TICKETS

$70 – Tasting & Admission Ticket (ages 21+)

Admission and unlimited wine & beer tasting for one day, plus a commemorative glass

$35 – Adult Event Admission Ticket (age 18 +)

$50 – Museums for All Tasting & Admission Ticket (ages 21+)

Admission and unlimited wine & beer tasting for one day, plus a commemorative glass

In-person advanced purchase only; present EBT or WIC card

$15 – Museums for All Event Admission Ticket (age 18 +)

In-person advanced purchase only; present EBT or WIC card

$10 – Junior Event Admission Ticket (ages 6 to 17)

FREE – Child Event Admission Ticket (age 5 and younger)

All tickets are valid between 11 AM and 5 PM on your chosen date; they are not timed. Tickets are non-refundable. Each ticket is valid for one day; if you wish to attend both days of the event, you will need a ticket for each day.

Event Guidelines

Art in the Gardens will be held rain or shine. The Gardens will not be open to guests until the event begins at 11:00 AM on August 1 or 2.ing
Regular admission is not available on two days of the event. All guests must purchase special event tickets. MCBG Members, AHS Reciprocal Admissions Program members, and ROAM reciprocal participants must purchase event tickets in order to visit the Gardens during this fundraising event.
All tickets are non-refundable. Proceeds from this fundraising event support our non-profit botanical garden.
Outside food or beverages are not allowed.
No smoking anywhere in the Gardens.
Dogs are not allowed at Art in the Gardens. Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens is well-known for its pet-friendly nature. However, during this special event, we ask that you please keep your pets at home or arrange for doggy daycare. Service animals are an exception to the rule.
Parking is free, but limited. Please plan to carpool or take the free Parking Shuttle. We are offering a free shuttle both days of Art in the Gardens. The shuttle will pick up from Mendocino College at 1211 Del Mar Dr, Fort Bragg, CA 95437, beginning at 11:00 AM, and take you directly to the event. Please do not park along the highway; it is extremely dangerous!
Trails contain uneven and natural surfaces. Walk with caution and wear appropriate footwear. By entering the property, visitors assume all risks associated with walking.
MCBG features over 4 miles (6.44 km) of trails; all main trails are made of hard-packed fine gravel. The main pathways are approximately 4 feet wide, with some narrower secondary trails branching off. View more details on Access California. It's about a half-mile walk to the ocean and a half-mile walk back from the ocean to the main entrance. We recommend bringing reusable water bottles and layers to make the most of your visit. Please contact administration@gardenbythesea.org with any accessibility questions.
Please be prepared with your own mobility cart/wheelchair for the event and utilize the courtesy shuttles, which will provide rides from the main parking lot, overflow parking areas, and Event Lawn. If you bring your own cart/wheelchair and need assistance in loading/unloading we can help! Please contact administration@gardenbythesea.org with any accessibility questions.
Art in the Gardens is an event where photography, audio, and video recording may occur. By entering the event, you consent to be photographed, filmed, and/or otherwise recorded. Your entry constitutes your consent to such photography, filming and/or recording and to any use in promotion of Art in the Gardens and the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens (MCBG).

Where to Stay & Dine on the Mendocino Coast

Turn your visit into a full coastal escape. Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens is surrounded by inviting places to stay—from cozy inns and oceanfront resorts to peaceful campgrounds—plus plenty of delicious spots to eat nearby.

Browse our local directory to find accommodations and dining options that match your style. Even better, these businesses support the Gardens through memberships and sponsorships, so your stay helps sustain this special place. Book local, eat well, and enjoy every minute on the Mendocino Coast!

Our 2026 Sponsors

We couldn't do it without you!

George and Ruth Bradford Foundation . Redwood Investments

Friends of the Gardens (FOG) . North Coast Brewing Company

The Coast KOZT FM . Highway 20 Feed The Beachcomber Motel . The Coast Cinemas

Community Foundation of Mendocino County – Meredythe G. & Clayton C. Daley, Jr. Family Fund

Further Reach Internet . Redwood Waste Solutions . Sea Rock Inn

Deep Valley Security . Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation . Mendocino College

Mendocino Solar Service . Rossi Building Materials . Savings Bank of Mendocino County

Thompson's PortaSeptic Service

BLICK Art Materials

Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsorship of this major annual fundraiser supports the Gardens and our mission to engage and enrich lives by displaying and conserving plants in harmony with our Northern California coastal ecosystems and to preserve public access to the coast. Please help us to maintain this world-class garden — a place for our community to find inspiration in nature. Partner with us in a celebration of creative expression, gorgeous gardens, music, food, and drink that attracts as many as 2,500 guests each year! Take a look at our 2026 Sponsorship & Underwriting Opportunities.

2026 Sponsor Form

To receive the full recognition of your sponsorship, please join as a sponsor by July 8. For more information or to discuss designing a specific sponsorship package, please contact our Event Coordinator, Shaly Borgen events@gardenbythesea.org.

Call for Artists 2027

A jury has selected the participants for Art in the Gardens 2026. Interested in showing your work at our fundraiser event next year? Complete our Artist Interest Form below, and we will notify you when the call for artists opens in January 2027.Vegetable Garden Rhody's Garden Cafe http://www.highway20feed.com/https://www.furtherreach.net/