The Los Angeles County Arboretum will transform its Celebration Garden into a mystical forest on September 7, offering a Shakespeare performance followed by a magical evening party.
“A Midsummer Night’s Experience” presents two distinct ways to immerse in fantasy: a 90-minute performance of Shakespeare’s beloved comedy and an “enchanting evening full of fantastical nature-based education,” according to the Arboretum’s description.
The afternoon begins at 4 p.m. with Bardfly Theatre Co’s production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” The company describes its approach candidly: “We do Shakespeare, and sometimes other stuff. We do it in bars, in parks, in places you can drink a beer and stop and smell the audience… Shakespeare’s either rolling in his grave or toasting us.”
Nicola Vann, Bardfly’s artistic director, notes: “I’ve always loved unusual performance spaces — from front porch plays as a kid to atmospheric outdoor theatres like CalShakes.”
The Celebration Garden, which typically hosts weddings for up to 150 guests, will serve as the backdrop. Attendees can purchase tickets for either experience or opt for the full package.
For the play, visitors should bring blankets for grass seating, with chairs available for those with mobility challenges.
Picnics are welcome during the performance.
The garden party continues until 8:30 p.m., featuring magic, themed cocktails, vendors, and live Shakespearean readings.
Guests can make miniature dragon eggs and interact with a “dryad tree spirit” while dressed in fantasy attire.
“A Midsummer Night’s Experience at the Arboretum” will run on Sunday, September 7 at 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Los Angeles County Arboretum, 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia, in Pasadena. For more call (626) 821-3222 or visit https://arboretum.org/events/midsummer-garden-party/2025-09-07. Tickets: Members: $20, Non-Members: $25
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