GARDEN DINING SERIES
Indulge your palate with special dining experiences that honor plants, local agricultural, and the craft of cooking. Enjoy thoughtfully curated, multicourse menus provided by Peppers Artful Events. Each dining experience in the series focuses on a different cuisine, reflecting seasonal themes and enhancing experiences at the Garden. Garden dining events are 21+ events.
UPCOMING DINING EVENTS
Garden Dinner: Flora Fete
Sunday, August 24, 6PM–9PM
Savor creative, wholesome dishes that celebrate the bounty of the earth, offering a nourishing and delicious feast that’s as good for the planet as it is for your palate. Showcasing the finest seasonal vegetables, hearty grains, and delectable legumes, artfully prepared to highlight their natural goodness. View the menu here.
Earth and Ember Dinner
Wednesday, September 10, 6PM–9PM
Enjoy an evening of live wood fired culinary delights as the summer sun sets over the Wachusett Reservoir. Gather and mingle among the blossoms while a wood-fired oven transforms seasonal ingredients into dishes kissed by flame and smoke. This menu highlights rustic elegance, from charred shishitos and roasted oysters to crispy cauliflower and galettes with bubbling berry filling. Signature cocktails and crisp wines echo the smoky depth and freshness of the evening, complemented by herbal infusions and craft mocktails. As twilight deepens, the warmth of earth and ember lingers—an unforgettable celebration of fire, flavor, and nature. View the menu here.
New England Harvest Dinner
Friday, October 10, 6PM–9PM
Join us for a Fall New England Harvest Dinner at the Garden. Immerse yourselves in the essence of the autumn harvest season and celebrate nature’s bounty with refined flavors and exquisite aromas amidst the beauty of fall foliage.
Botanica Nocturne
Sunday, October 26, 6PM–9PM
As autumn deepens and the Garden slips into its golden hush, guests are invited to explore its more mysterious side in an evening where every herb tells a story, and every dish stirs something ancient. Candlelit tables adorned with vintage apothecary bottles and dried botanicals set the stage for a celebration of folklore, flavor, and enchantment. Seasonal ingredients are transformed into dishes infused with warmth and herbaceous notes that weave through each course. The menu has a touch of magic in each bite as an ode to nature’s healing and indulgent powers. Sip botanical cocktails, herbal tonics, and craft mocktails—elixirs echoing the garden’s flavors. As the night unfolds, the glow of candlelight and warmth of good company create an atmosphere of wonder, connection, and mystery.
Dinner by Dazzle
Monday, December 8, 6PM–8:30PM
Monday, December 15, 6PM–8:30PM
Step into a winter dream beneath a canopy of twinkling lights. The crisp air carries a sense of enchantment as you savor elegant, winter-inspired dishes that warm both body and soul, each bite a celebration of the season with sweet, indulgent finishes that shimmer like the night. Seasonal cocktails and craft mocktails, infused with the essence of winter, offer frosty delights in every sip. As you gather with friends beneath the sparkling lights, raise a glass to the quiet magic of the season—a celebration of nature, warmth, and the joy of togetherness.
Past Dinners:
Summer Solstice: Garden Dinner
June 17, 2025
Aromatic Table: An Afternoon Tea
June 7, 2025
Spring Equinox
March, 2025
This special dining experience celebrated the transition from winter to spring with fresh, tender flavors. An artfully crafted menu highlighted locally sourced vegetables such as asparagus, fiddlehead ferns, and radishes. The dinner was set against a backdrop of blooming flowers and soft, warm lighting, for an ambience that honored the balance between winter’s comforts and spring’s promise.
Orchid Delight
February, 2025
Each plate in this multi-course meal took guests on a culinary journey around the world. The menu was crafted to reflect the native regions of orchids featured in the Garden’s annual orchid exhibition. Inspired by the flavors and traditions of Southeast Asia, South America, the Caribbean, and beyond, this vibrant menu celebrated the essence of orchid diversity.
FAQs
Each ticket includes a multi-course family-style dinner and one complimentary beverage.
Family-style service is when courses are presented on large, shared dishes for guests to individually serve themselves from while seated at the table.
All dinners will include at least one vegetarian option per course. Gluten-free items will be labeled on the menu; however, guests with food allergies or sensitivities—especially gluten-related concerns—should contact Erin Kutz, Senior Operations Manager (ekutz@nebg.org), at least 3 business days prior to the event to discuss dietary needs and potential for cross-contamination.
An alternative indoor location will be planned for the event if needed due to weather.
The event is open seating but for large parties or groups who would like to be seated together, please contact Erin Kutz, Senior Operations Manager (ekutz@nebg.org), at least 3 business days prior to the event.
All garden dinners take place after the Garden closes to the public. Unless specified otherwise, areas outside the designated dinner locations are closed.
The Garden Shop and the rest of the property will be closed during this event.
Live music will not be part of this event, but instrumental background music will be played over speakers in the event locations.
Tickets are non-refundable and are non-transferable to another event. If you are unable to attend, you are welcome to give your tickets to a friend or family member to use in your place. If someone else will be attending on your behalf, please contact Erin Kutz, Senior Operations Manager (ekutz@nebg.org), so that we can update the name on the reservation.
