Garvan sets record attendance
Following record attendance in August and September, Garvan Woodland Gardens has started offering more events during the month of October.
Sherre Freeman, Garvan’s marketing director, told The Sentinel-Record August and September were “all-time records for us.”
Bob Bledsoe, Garvan’s executive director, said that so far this quarter attendance is up 25% compared to last year and gift shop sales are up by 59%.
Bledsoe said August saw a 47.78% increase in attendance, and gift shop sales rose 182% over August 2019.
“Just for the month of September (attendance was) up 85.75%,” Bledsoe said, and gift shop sales were up 121%.
“Only thing I can attribute it to is folks are just going out and getting vitamin D,” Bledsoe said, “We’re not doing anything different, but the numbers are through the roof.”
Freeman said the large attendance is made up of both locals and tourists from out of state.
“The crowds throughout the week are mainly from out of state,” she said, with “huge amount from Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma,” and tourists from Tennessee and Missouri.
Weekends feature just as many of the tourists, “but more members” also show up, she said.
“Obviously I’m thrilled,” Bledsoe said, calling the numbers a “testament to the fact that folks want to be outside.”
The botanical garden also saw a large crowd Saturday during its first Fall Celebration Saturdays, an event that is taking place each Saturday during October.
Freeman said the five- day event replaces the annual Celebrate Fall event, noting they decided to space it out over five days so they wouldn’t have one massive crowd on one day.
With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it is “not possible to do” an event that “probably thousands would come” for.
Saturday had “over 1,000 people” attend, with the first 100 children to enter the garden getting a free take-home activity project.
A news release said that, on Oct. 24, the first 100 children will receive pumpkins. On Saturday, Oct. 31, there will be Halloween treat bags for the first 200 children.
The garden has been decorated for the season, she said, noting pumpkins and hay have been put out, and the mums are in bloom.
Other returning events include Group Health Walks, Yoga at the Gardens, and the Tai Chi Series.
The walks will be held from 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. daily until Nov. 30. Masks are required for entry and in some garden areas. The group meets in the Welcome Center.
The yoga sessions last a halfhour. The remaining sessions will begin at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 17, Nov. 7 and Nov. 21 in the Klipsch Amphitheatre.
The Yoga sessions are free to members or $12 per session for nonmembers.
The Tai Chi Series, by the Oaklawn Center on Aging, is held on each Thursday during October. A beginner’s course is at 1 p.m. with an advanced course starting at 2 p.m.
The Group Help Walks and the Tai Chi Series are free to members or with a paid daily admission of $15 for adults, $5 for children aged 4-12, or free to children 3 and younger.
Freeman said events such as Yoga at the Gardens are held outdoors where participants can socially distance from each other.