Lotus & Water Lily Festival – DAY 7: Honoring Our Veterans

Programming: 8:30am – 8:00pm
Special Hours: 8:00am – 8:00pm

In honor of the garden’s founder, Civil War Veteran, Walter Shaw, today we’re inviting and celebrating Veterans with a variety of programs and music.

Bird Walk – 8:30 am 

Kenilworth has a variety of different habitats, so we get a great variety of birds at the park. Bring your binoculars and join us to see what we’ll discover on the bird walk.  Beginners are welcome.

Forest Bathing – 9:30 am 
Forest bathing originated in Japan and is a meditative form of walking that involves using your senses. It’s also been found to lower blood pressure and improve health. Sage Raindancer has been leading walks at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens as part of the park series “Wellderness” that is sponsored by Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens.

Acrylic Painting Class – 10:00 am 
Join Paint Amore to create a painting of plants in the garden. Class is open to 20 participants. Register at the welcome tent just inside the park entrance.

Drumming with Katy Gaughan- 11:00 am

Find your rhythm in this group drum circle led by Katy Gaughn.  This festival favorite is a fun way for people of all ages to make some noise.   Drums provided.

Mightier than the Sword: A Recovery through Writing Workshop for Veterans and Others – 1:00 pm 

Michelle Petties  author of “Living Large; the Story of a Food Addict” and motivational speaker using writing and storytelling to make change in her own life and will guide participants in this workshop to use writing as a catalyst for transformation and healing.

Walter Shaw and the history of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Program – 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm

Learn about garden founder, Walter Shaw who was a wounded, Civil War Veteran who started a water garden as a hobby which turned into a “side-hustle” and finally a thriving business growing water plants.

Origem Concert – 5:30 pm 

Brazilian jazz band, Origem, brings their smooth sounds to the garden for this evening show.