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Spring Garden and Butterfly Festival

Saturday, May 2, 2026 from 9 AM to 3 PM
Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College
All Ages
Free

About the Event

It’s Back! The Spring Garden & Butterfly Festival

This highly anticipated community event brings together The Water Conservation Garden, Cuyamaca College, and the Heritage of the Americas Museum for a day filled with nature, music, learning, and family fun.

Visitors can explore over 90 craft vendors and nonprofit partners, enjoy butterfly releases at The Water Conservation Garden, and participate in a variety of family-friendly activities throughout the campus.

Festival highlights include:

Butterfly Releases and Milkweed Sales within the Water Conservation Garden, non-profit partners, and a pollinator zone

The largest plant sale of the year, hosted by the Cuyamaca College Ornamental Horticulture Department at building M

The Coyote Music Festival, presented by the Cuyamaca Performing Arts Department, featuring many local bands performing original music

Cuyamaca Open House where visitors can learn more about Cuyamaca College programs and services.

Dino Land, Alpacas and Cartoon Cool Zone at the Heritage of the Americas Museum

A variety of food trucks – even more than last year!

This annual celebration brings together gardening enthusiasts, families, students, and the community for a day of discovery, entertainment, and inspiration.

Come celebrate spring with us!

Visit: Spring Garden and Butterfly Festival

The Water Conservation Garden on Instagram and Facebook

Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College

Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College

12122 Cuyamaca College Drive West
El Cajon, California 92019
619-660-0614
info@TheGarden.org

The Water Conservation Garden has nearly five acres of gardens and exhibits that showcase water conservation through a series of beautiful themed gardens, such as a native plant garden and a vegetable garden, as well as how-to displays such as mulch and irrigation exhibits. Admission is free, and the Garden can be viewed on a self-guided tour, or through one of our programs. Programs include:- Four to six classes per month for the general public, including landscaping, gardening, and art offerings. - Training in water conservation for professional landscapers. - School tours. - Regularly-scheduled adult group tours. - Tours by appointment. - Large educational special events. - Outreach programs, including a speaker’s bureau. The Garden can be a learning laboratory for the dedicated gardener, a delightful place for an afternoon stroll, or a place to gather lots of information about water-wise, or California-Friendly® gardening, while attending a fun family festival. The Garden is supported by water district dues, and by memberships, donations, grants, facility rentals, and gift shop sales. In 2005, Friends of the Water Conservation was created to increase private support for the Garden. The Garden does not allow dogs, with the exception of guide dogs. Hours: (Refer to the website for the most up to date hours) Spring, Fall, and Winter: Open daily, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., some holidays excepted. Summer (June 1 – Aug. 31): The Garden is open until 7 p.m. every Wed. evening to enjoy a walk with your friendly (and leashed) furry friend. Cost: Free Admission The Garden is closed on the following holidays: - Jan. 1 - July 4 - Labor Day - Thanksgiving - Dec. 24 - Dec. 25

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