UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Dinner and dancing will highlight a Gala in the Gardens event from 5:30 to 10 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 20, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the opening of The Arboretum at Penn State’s H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens. 

All festivities will take place in the gardens, which are located at the corner of Bigler Road and Park Avenue on the University Park campus. 

The inspiration for this event, according to Kim Steiner, director of the arboretum, is a desire to celebrate the generosity of the donors, volunteers and supporters who have helped make The Arboretum at Penn State a landmark and a regional destination for more than 150,000 visitors annually.

“The event is particularly timely because we are about to significantly enhance this space with two new features, a three-acre Pollinator and Bird Garden and a new art museum, slated to open in 2022,” said Steiner. “We invite the public to join us in sharing the excitement of this moment in the arboretum’s history.”

The gala will begin at 5:30 p.m. with activities and a reception on the event lawn. At 7 p.m., as daylight fades, guests will take their seats to enjoy an elegant dinner. Following dessert, partygoers will dance to jazz and swing sounds by the local band Eastern Standards.

All are invited to attend. The event will be held rain or shine, and attire is garden chic. Tickets are $150 per person. Preregistration and payment must be made by Sept. 9 at this website to guarantee reservations. 

For more information, email arboretum@psu.edu or call 814-865-9118. To learn more about the Arboretum, visit the website.