Saturday, April 6: 26th Annual Camellia Classic Open Car Show, 9 AM to 3 PM
Stroll among hundreds of classic and vintage automobiles displayed on the Great Lawn at the Mobile Bay Mustang Club’s 26th Annual Camellia Classic Open Car Show. Snacks and lunch will be available to purchase on the Great Lawn and in our Magnolia Café.
Bellingrath Gardens Azalea Bloom
Each spring, guests at Bellingrath Gardens and Home enjoy the blooms of more than 250,000 vibrant azaleas in an explosion of color throughout the 65-acre estate. The annual Azalea Bloom Out goes back to Bellingrath’s earliest beginnings in 1918, when Walter Bellingrath purchased a rustic fishing camp on Fowl River. His wife, Bessie, who loved gardening, wanted to beautify the property and relied on old-growth azaleas as a starting point. Ever since, Bellingrath Gardens has been synonymous with the Gulf Coast’s beautiful azalea season.
Fun fact: Bessie Bellingrath’s gardening skills also provided the spark that led to the creation of Mobile’s famous Azalea Trail in 1929. The Bellingraths’ neighbor across South Ann Street in Mobile, Sam Lackland, often observed the countless cars driving through their property to admire their azaleas each spring. Mr. Lackland was a retired hotel executive, and after a trip to Charleston one spring, he was told that the hotels were all booked because of tourists coming to see the azaleas. He returned to Mobile and approached the City Commission with the idea of establishing an Azalea Trail to attract tourists. With the help of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, Mobile’s Azalea Trail was presented in the spring of 1929.
Today, visitors to Mobile may enjoy the newly reestablished Azalea Trail in Mobile and the Azalea Bloom Out at Bellingrath. The Azalea Watch page is updated daily on, bellingrath.org.
Saturday, April 13: Easter Egg Hunt and Breakfast with the Easter Bunny, 8 AM to Noon
Bellingrath Gardens and Home invites children of all ages to join us for Breakfast with the Easter Bunny and the annual Easter Egg Hunt on the Great Lawn on Saturday, April 13.
Thousands of Easter eggs will be scattered across the Great Lawn, and there will be plenty of candy and treats for little ones to fill their Easter baskets. After the egg hunt, families are encouraged to enjoy other Easter activities within the Gardens. The Easter Bunny will be available for professional photos, and education students from the University of South Alabama will hold arts and crafts projects for children from 9 a.m. to noon at Live Oak Plaza, where special Easter snacks will also be available for purchase.
The Magnolia Café will host the sixth annual Breakfast with the Easter Bunny, with pancakes, sausage patties, fruit and beverages, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. The Easter Bunny will visit guests at their tables and pose for photos throughout the breakfast. Please note that reservations are required in advance for the breakfast as seating is limited. The cost is $10 for adults, $8 for children ages 5-12 and $5 for ages 4 and younger. To reserve a spot, call 251-973-2217, or make reservations online at our website, bellingrath.org.
Sunday, April 21: Easter Sunrise Service, 6:30 AM
As the sun rises over Bellingrath Gardens and Home on Easter Sunday, guests are invited to come and enjoy a special Sunrise Service with friends and family on Live Oak Plaza. The service will begin at 6:30 a.m. and is open to everyone in the community. Complimentary admission will be given to guests from 6 to 8 a.m. on Easter Sunday. A limited number of chairs will be set up and guests are encouraged to bring their own chairs. A hot breakfast will be available for purchase after the service. In case of inclement weather, the Service will be moved indoors into the Magnolia Café.
Mid to late April: Rose Bloom Out at Bellingrath
(For precise times of the blooms, please check Rose Watch at bellingrath.org beginning in mid-April.)
Tour the award-winning Bellingrath Rose Garden during its first bloom, which features more than 2,000 plants representing 75 varieties. Roses will be available for sale in the Gift Shop.
Saturday, April 27: Wiggle Waggle 5K Race and 1-Mile Fun Run, 8 AM to Noon
Bellingrath Gardens and Home invites runners, walkers and their furry friends to a fun event for a good cause: The Wiggle Waggle Rescue Run to benefit the Animal Rescue Foundation. All runners and walkers who sign up for the Wiggle Waggle race events, a 5K and a 1-mile walk/run, will receive a discounted admission of $5 to the Gardens for the day, along with discounts for their family members and friends. On this date, dogs are allowed in the Gardens until noon in exchange for a $5 donation to ARF!
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