By Coral Gables Gazette staff

On Valentine’s Day evening, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden will transform from a place of daylight exploration into an open-air concert setting shaped by music, atmosphere, and the slow unfolding of night. Garden D’Amore, the garden’s annual Valentine’s Day concert experience, returns Saturday, Feb. 14, inviting guests to gather beneath the palms for an evening of live performance, aerial artistry, and candlelit paths designed to encourage lingering rather than rushing.

Beginning at 5:30 p.m., as daylight gives way to evening, melodies will drift across Fairchild’s central lawn, creating a setting where guests may settle into the grass, reserved seating, or premium tables while the garden itself becomes part of the performance. The event, which takes place only once each year, has become one of Coral Gables’ most distinctive Valentine’s Day traditions, offering an alternative to conventional restaurant celebrations by placing music and atmosphere at the center of the experience.

Music anchored by nationally recognized performers

This year’s concert features a headline performance by Miami native Monique Abbadie, whose vocal style blends Latin pop, soul, and contemporary influences. Abbadie gained national recognition through her appearance on NBC’s The Voice, where her audition drew the attention of all four judges and introduced her to a broad audience. Her return to perform in her home city reinforces the evening’s connection to South Florida’s musical landscape.

Opening the program is singer-songwriter Jared Dylan, a graduate of the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music and recipient of the BMI John Lennon Scholarship. Known for his acoustic performances and intimate stage presence, Dylan’s set will begin as the sun lowers, establishing the emotional tone for the evening before Abbadie’s headline performance.

Together, the artists will provide a musical arc that mirrors the garden’s own transition from daylight into night, reinforcing the event’s emphasis on atmosphere as much as performance.

An environment designed as much as a concert

Garden D’Amore unfolds not only as a concert but as a carefully structured environment that integrates visual elements, movement, and landscape. Throughout the evening, aerial performers will appear above the lawn, their movements adding a visual dimension that complements the music below. Candlelit pathways will invite guests to wander between performances, while sunset tram rides offer a slower vantage point from which to experience the garden.

The design reflects Fairchild’s broader role as both botanical institution and cultural venue. Over time, the garden has expanded its programming to include concerts, art installations, and seasonal events that engage visitors beyond traditional daytime hours. Garden D’Amore represents one of the clearest expressions of that evolution, merging performance and landscape into a unified experience.

Unlike traditional concert venues, where attention focuses exclusively on the stage, the open-air setting allows the environment itself to participate. The shifting light, movement of air through the palms, and gradual deepening of evening contribute to the event’s rhythm.

A Valentine’s tradition shaped by choice and atmosphere

Guests may choose from a range of seating options, including open lawn seating, concert chairs, and premium reserved tables designed for couples or small groups. This flexibility allows attendees to shape their experience according to their preferences, whether seeking proximity to the stage or a more private vantage point within the garden.

Curated add-ons further extend the evening’s sensory dimension. Options include champagne and charcuterie pairings, chef-prepared picnic baskets, cocktail flights, and dessert selections designed to complement the setting without interrupting its pace. These offerings reinforce the event’s emphasis on sustained experience rather than brief attendance.

The garden’s design encourages movement between listening and exploration. Guests may remain seated for performances or walk through illuminated paths between sets, creating a fluid environment that evolves throughout the evening.