By Coral Gables Gazette staff
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden will open its gates after dark for an evening that mixes music, food, and the quiet drama of a tropical landscape at night. Sip & Stroll: Jazz Nights returns on Thursday, September 18, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., offering guests a one-night program designed for relaxed exploration and live performance.
Music under the palms
The centerpiece is a two-hour set by the Jazz Band Trio, whose repertoire of standards and swing will fill the garden’s open spaces as sunset fades to twilight. Listeners can sit on the lawn, settle at café tables, or enjoy premium seating at reserved two-tops placed close to the stage. The sound carries across the great lawn, allowing visitors to drift between music and pathways without losing the atmosphere
Guided sunset tours and Garden access
Before the music peaks, Fairchild staff and volunteers will lead short sunset tours of the grounds. Groups will pause at heritage trees, seasonal plantings, and water features, pointing out blooms that release fragrance after dusk. These walks, included with admission, give a quiet frame to the evening and invite participants to see parts of the 83-acre site that often go unnoticed during daytime visits.
Food, cocktails, and add-on comforts
A range of food vendors will set up along the promenade with light entrées, desserts, and small bites. Guests may also choose from signature cocktails created for the program, or order wine and craft beer at satellite bars. For those who prefer a planned picnic, the Garden offers a Picnic Basket for Two ($85) stocked with cheeses, charcuterie, fresh fruit, and sweets. Lawn-goers can rent blankets for $5, while the Premium Ticket ($105.95) includes a reserved table and service area for drinks.
Ticketing, schedule, and practical tips
General admission is priced at $34.99 for adults and $17.95 for children ages three to eleven. Gates open at 6 p.m., giving visitors time to park and explore before the music begins at 6:30. Parking is free, and the entrance is located at 10901 Old Cutler Road in Coral Gables. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended, and light layers or insect repellent can make the evening easier near water or under tree canopy.
A Garden with cultural reach
Founded in 1938 by Colonel Robert H. Montgomery and named for plant explorer Dr. David Fairchild, the garden has grown into a hub for conservation and education. Its living collections include palms, cycads, orchids, flowering trees, and tropical fruit species gathered from expeditions worldwide. Behind the scenes, research staff maintain archives and a herbarium that support horticultural study across the region.
Fairchild’s public mission extends well beyond daytime admission. Programs such as the Fairchild Challenge, Growing Beyond Earth, and collaborations with BioTECH High School reach thousands of students each year. Evening events—jazz concerts, chocolate and mango festivals, outdoor sculpture shows—connect that work with a broader community, reminding visitors that safeguarding rare plants is linked to public awareness and enjoyment.
Music resonates in lush setting
Hosting live jazz amid cycads and palms illustrates how cultural programming can deepen appreciation for landscape. The garden becomes a backdrop, but also a participant: moonlight catches glossy leaves, night-fragrant flowers open, and the soft sound of water from stone basins layers into the music. Guests leave with memories of rhythm and setting, but also with a stronger sense of the garden’s role as a living museum.
As autumn approaches, Sip & Stroll: Jazz Nights offers an easy way to step out of routine. Couples can share a basket on the lawn, families can join tours before choosing dessert, and friends can gather over cocktails as a trio plays nearby. The evening is shaped to encourage connection—with companions, with music, and with a tropical landscape that has anchored Coral Gables for nearly a century.
