Dog Walking Hours

ATTN: If you are a member, please sign in before purchasing tickets. Your discount will apply once your tickets have been added to the cart. Please be sure to add your human tickets to the cart, not just your dog ticket. 

You are purchasing a dog-walking ticket! On a select Sunday of the month, the Garden allows our Garden visitors to bring their four-legged best friends into our beautiful 87 acres. Whether you're bringing your pups with you or not, please be aware that there will be dogs in the Garden during this time.

Please review the Garden visit rules before you attend, which can be found here.

To provide the highest quality service, South Coast Botanic Garden saves information related to your ticket purchase. South Coast Botanic Garden will never keep any credit card information. 

Cozy Crafting: DIY Cornucopia

Celebrate the fall season at Cozy Crafting: DIY Cornucopia! In this festive hands-on workshop, you’ll fill your own cornucopia with fresh plant material from the Garden, then add decorative touches like ribbon and seed pods to create a one-of-a-kind holiday centerpiece. As you craft, our instructor will share the fascinating origins of the cornucopia, fun plant facts, and insider tips to keep your arrangement looking festive all season long. Each guest will enjoy a hot apple cider, with the option to spike it if you’d like some extra holiday cheer, as you craft a centerpiece that could become a cherished yearly tradition. (For non-members, the price of General Admission is included in the workshop ticket.)

Price: $45 for Members, $59 for Non-members

Come meet our tropical butterflies in their enclosed habitat!

This add-on ticket allows entry into the butterfly pavilion. Please check the day and time of your SOAR Add-On selection to make sure it is coordinated with your General Admission ticket.

Your SOAR ticket time is the time you enter the pavilion. You can arrive at the host and nectar garden up to 10 minutes early to ensure you see the native butterflies and caterpillars outside of the pavilion. 

Trail Tour: Walking with Giants

Looking to get up-close and personal with our prehistoric pals? Join the Trail Tour: Walking with Giants! This ticket includes General Garden Admission and an exclusive guided tour of part of our current exhibit - Dinosaurs Around the World: The Great Outdoors. This exhibit features 10 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs, and you’ll get to meet all ten on this forty minute walk. 

Garden Members receive free General Admission and a discount on Trail Tour: Walking with Giants tickets. All discounts will be applied after you've selected your tickets and clicked "Add to Cart." Please make sure you are logged in BEFORE adding the tickets to your cart, or the Member discount will not apply. 

Experience Instructions:
Please arrive up to 30 minutes before the time on your ticket. Late arrivals will not be accommodated.  Your ticket time is when you will join the Trail Tour: Walking with Giants within the Garden.

Cancellation Policy:
Due to the limited availability and run of the Trail Tour: Walking with Giants, tickets are non-refundable. Rescheduling is based upon availability. 

Please review the Garden visit rules before you attend, which can be found here.

GYM: Goat Yoga & Matcha

Kick off the new year by taking your gym time outdoors in the most unique way possible! Join us for GYM: Goat Yoga & Matcha, a guided 60-minute yoga session led by a skilled instructor, with the playful company of friendly goats who love to mingle as you move. After your workout, enjoy a refreshing matcha beverage while strolling through the Garden, feeling energized and relaxed. Don’t forget to snap a photo with your new four-legged friends at the end of the workshop, because this is one yoga experience you’ll never forget! (For non-members, the price of General Admission is included in the workshop ticket.)

Price: $60 for Members, $74 for Non-members

Dogtoberfest

We are welcoming our furry, four-leggged friends to enjoy Dogtoberfest every Saturday and Sunday beginning October 10, 2026 through November 1, 2026.

This year’s Dogtoberfest features exciting new additions, including a larger band with dancers, more Oktoberfest-inspired competitions, an expanded VIP Beer Tasting experience for a VIP Dog ticket. Guests can indulge in Bavarian-inspired food and beer for purchase from Dottie’s at the Koi Pond, have their pup compete in dog races, and capture the moment at our stunning photo opp. With even more festive décor and increased community seating, the Garden’s Upper Meadow will transform into a cheerful biergarten atmosphere that welcomes pups and people alike. 

ATTN: If you are a Member, please sign in before purchasing tickets. Your discount will apply once your tickets have been added to the cart. Please add your human tickets to the cart, not just your dog ticket. 

Dogtoberfest VIP Add-On

Back by pup-ular demand, Dogtoberfest is returning to the Garden for its third year this October—and it’s bigger, better and barkier than ever! Inspired by the beloved Bavarian tradition of Oktoberfest, this one-of-a-kind event brings together dogs and their humans for a festive celebration filled with live music, beer and plenty of tail-wagging fun every Saturday and Sunday from October 10 through November 1.

This year’s Dogtoberfest features exciting new additions, including a larger band with dancers, more Oktoberfest-inspired competitions, an expanded VIP Beer Tasting experience for a VIP Dog ticket. Guests can indulge in Bavarian-inspired food and beer for purchase from Dottie’s at the Koi Pond, have their pup compete in dog races, and capture the moment at our stunning photo opp. With even more festive décor and increased community seating, the Garden’s Upper Meadow will transform into a cheerful biergarten atmosphere that welcomes pups and people alike.

Whether you’re coming for the brats, the brews or the barks, Dogtoberfest is the perfect way to celebrate fall—Garden style. Prost!

UPGRADE YOUR GA TICKET AND GO VIP: Enhance your experience with our VIP tickets include:

• 4 FREE beer tastings (root beer option available for non-alcohol drinkers) placed along our Pup Crawl
• 1 FREE beer
• Boarding for The Bierhound Express, which allows you access to a VIP Express Lane at Dottie’s at the Koi Pond
• Access to a VIP Bar
• Make-and-take pretzel necklace 
• Priority selection for our Oktoberfest-inspired competitions

**NEW THIS YEAR**: Enhance your DOG’s experience wth our new VIP Dog ticket, which includes:

• 1 FREE dog beer tasting 
• 1 FREE dog treat
• Access to the VIP Top Dog Zone featuring splash pads and doggie pools
• Picture of your dog at the event

Cozy Crafting: DIY Cornucopia

Get a gift, give a gift, and fill your home with the cozy scents of the season! In this hands-on workshop, you’ll fill two 12 oz. jars with aromatic botanical essentials, one to keep and one to give to someone special. Fill your jars with plants collected from the Garden alongside seasonal ingredients like dried apple slices, cinnamon sticks, dried oranges, and warming spices, crafting a scent that feels just right for your home this holiday season. We’ll show you how to use your materials at home, then take a quick stroll through the Garden to learn how to safely forage plant materials and bring a little more nature into your own seasonal creations. Each guest will also enjoy a warm cup of hot apple cider, with the option to spike it for a little extra holiday cheer.  (For non-members, the price of General Admission is included in the workshop ticket.)

Price: $40 for Members, $54 for Non-members

Botanical Keepsakes: Pressed Flower Lanterns 

Brighten up the darker days of winter with a little botanical magic! Settle in with a warm cup of hot apple cider, with an optional splash of rum for those looking to toast to the season. Transform a large handled glass jar into your own one-of-a-kind pressed flower lantern. You’ll use blooms and greenery collected from the Garden throughout the year, to create your own look with a cozy fall color palette, favorite plants, or a festive mix of both. There’s no wrong way to style your lantern! Once your design is complete, watch it come to life as you illuminate it from within, then finish it off with a ribbon for the perfect seasonal touch. We’ll also share simple tips and tricks for pressing plants at home, so you can keep creating botanical keepsakes inspired by the plants around you. (For non-members, the price of General Admission is included in the workshop ticket.)

Price: $45 for Members, $59 for Non-members 

Botanical Keepsakes: Wreath Making

It’s time to deck the halls, and with this workshop, you’ll get to bring a piece of the Garden home with you to do it! For our fifth annual Wreath Decorating Workshop, you’ll sip on hot chocolate (or spike it for extra fun) while creating your own festive wreath. Using a mix of Noble and Cedar cuttings, accent plants from the Garden and cheerful ribbon, each wreath is uniquely crafted to celebrate the season. Craft, laugh, and make memories with friends and family while learning simple tips to keep your wreath fresh and beautiful throughout the holidays. (For non-members, the price of General Admission is included in the workshop ticket.)

Price: $50 for Members, $64 for Non-members

Dinosaurs Around the World: A SCBG Field Guide

This 16-page booklet includes a map of Dinosaurs Around the World,  along with information about each dinosaur featured in the exhibit and fun facts about the formation of Pangea, and what plantlife looked like in the Age of the Reptile. Guests can also join the study by completing the fill-in field guide page. Best of all, it makes a wonderful keepsake from your visit to the exhibit and the Garden. 

Add it to your cart today and pick it up on the day of your visit! 

Please note, this is a merchandise item and sales tax will be included. Dinosaurs Around the World: A SCBG Field Guide is non-refundable, and the cost of the Field Guide is not applicable towards the redemption of a membership on site.

Butterfly Feeding Experience

Want an even more unique SOAR experience? For an additional $6, you can feed the butterflies! Every guest with a Butterfly Feeding Experience ticket will be given a "lollipop" to use while in the pavilion to help attract the butterflies for the most optimum and immersive experience. One lollipop per ticket.

Thomas Dambo’s TROLLS: A Field Study

Prepare for a GIANT dose of wonder!  Your General Garden Admission now includes Thomas Dambo’s TROLLS: A Field Study, a whimsical expedition featuring 12 large Trolls crafted entirely from reclaimed wood. These gentle, globe-trotting giants have ventured to our corner of the world on an important mission: to observe humankind’s delightful quirks—what makes you wonderfully, uniquely you?

Their visit to South Coast Botanic Garden transforms our 87 acres into a playful, storybook landscape, where guests can wander beside these charismatic creatures and discover them tucked into immersive locations across the grounds. Step into their world, see the Garden through their curious eyes, and let the Trolls add you to their ongoing study of humanity!

Please review the Garden visit rules before you attend, which can be found here.

To provide the highest quality service, South Coast Botanic Garden saves information related to your ticket purchase. South Coast Botanic Garden will never keep any credit card information.

Thomas Dambo’s TROLLS: A Field Study

Prepare for a GIANT dose of wonder!  Your General Garden Admission now includes Thomas Dambo’s TROLLS: A Field Study, a whimsical expedition featuring 12 large Trolls crafted entirely from reclaimed wood. These gentle, globe-trotting giants have ventured to our corner of the world on an important mission: to observe humankind’s delightful quirks—what makes you wonderfully, uniquely you?

Their visit to South Coast Botanic Garden transforms our 87 acres into a playful, storybook landscape, where guests can wander beside these charismatic creatures and discover them tucked into immersive locations across the grounds. Step into their world, see the Garden through their curious eyes, and let the Trolls add you to their ongoing study of humanity!

Please review the Garden visit rules before you attend, which can be found here.

To provide the highest quality service, South Coast Botanic Garden saves information related to your ticket purchase. South Coast Botanic Garden will never keep any credit card information.

Parent & Me: DIY Fossils

Dig into dino-sized fun with your little one in this interactive parent and child workshop! Together, you’ll stamp dinosaur figurines and plant clippings into clay to create your very own DIY fossils. Afterwards, each child will take their creation home to dry. Once dried, you can enjoy your keepsake as is, or bring it to life by painting your fossils. You can even make a “great impression” on your friends and family this holiday season, and turn them into ornaments! Along the way, you’ll discover what it means to be a “living fossil” and how plants connect to our Dinosaurs Around the World exhibit. To make the day extra cozy, every participant will enjoy a complimentary hot chocolate while crafting. 

Tickets are per fossil, adult chaperones get in free to the workshop, but still need General Admission tickets. Limit one adult chaperone per child. (For non-members, General Admission is included in the workshop ticket.) 

Price: $10 for Members, $20 for Non-members

Thomas Dambo’s TROLLS: A Field Study

Grab your walking stick and join us for a Troll Trek - a whimsical and wonderful walking tour! This ticket includes an exclusive guided tour of Thomas Dambo’s TROLLS: A Field Study as well as General Admission. On this 40-minute romp through the wilder side of our Garden, you’ll follow your Tour Guide to discover and meet the Twelvelings as they collect data for their Field Study.

Garden Members receive free General Admission and a discount on Troll Trek tickets. All discounts will be applied after you've selected your tickets and clicked "Add to Cart." Please make sure you are logged in BEFORE adding the tickets to your cart, or the Member discount will not apply. 

Accessibility Notes:
Troll Treks are guided walking tours that explore remote and rugged areas of the Garden. The route includes uneven terrain, narrow paths and slopes. The Trek requires the ability to walk and stand for the duration of the experience.

Guests who are unable to navigate the walking route may participate in the Troll Trek Mobility Ride. This option can accommodate guests using wheelchairs and other mobility devices. Please visit our Accessibility page for details and availability.

Experience Instructions:
We recommend arriving at least 30 minutes prior to your scheduled Troll Trek time to allow for parking, entry and possible busy conditions upon arrival. Your ticket time indicates when your guided experience begins. Late arrivals are unable to be accommodated.

Cancellation Policy:
Due to the limited availability and run of the Troll Trek experience, tickets are non-refundable. 

Please review the Garden visit rules before you attend, which can be found here.

To provide the highest quality service, South Coast Botanic Garden saves information related to your ticket purchase. South Coast Botanic Garden will never keep any credit card information. 

Field Guide: Trolls Edition 

This 16-page booklet includes a map of Thomas Dambo’s Trolls: A Field Study, along with information about each troll featured in the exhibit and fun facts about the trees used to create their hair. Guests can also join the study by completing the fill-in field guide page. Best of all, it makes a wonderful keepsake from your visit to the exhibit and the Garden. 

Add it to your cart today and pick it up on the day of your visit! 

Please note, this is a merchandise item and sales tax will be included. The Field Guide: Trolls Edition is non-refundable, and the cost of the Field Guide is not applicable towards the redemption of a membership on site.  

SOAR Tropical Butterflies and Garden Admission

To provide the highest quality service, South Coast Botanic Garden saves information related to your ticket purchase. South Coast Botanic Garden will never keep any credit card information. 

Butterfly Feeding Experience

Want an even more unique SOAR experience? For an additional $6, you can feed the butterflies! Every guest with a Butterfly Feeding Experience ticket will be given a "lollipop" to use while in the pavilion to help attract the butterflies for the most optimum and immersive experience. One lollipop per ticket.

Tiny Troll Trek

The Tiny Troll Trek is a playful, family-friendly experience designed for our youngest troll hunters
and their grown-ups. This shorter guided adventure includes a meet & greet with four trolls,
interactive activities that encourage family participation, and one Field Guide for every
registered guest. After the guided portion, families are welcome to continue exploring and
searching for the remaining trolls at their own pace.

Behind The Wings

Have you ever wondered how butterflies get to the SOAR Pavilion? Join one of our knowledgeable SOAR Guides to go Behind the Wings! As honorary “Staff for the Day,” we’ll show you each step in the process, from how shipments arrive at the Garden to how they are transported to our pavilion and every step in between. Included in this experience is exclusive access to our Staff Only processing center, known as the Emergence Chamber, plus the opportunity to name a chrysalis and add your picture to the “Behind the Wings” photo board! This tour is recommended for guests aged 6 and up.

Please note that access to the Emergence Chamber requires stepping up one large step. If you have accessibility concerns or need accommodations, please contact us prior to your visit.