The Antiques, Garden & Design Show on April 17-19 at the Chicago Botanic Garden

Chicago Botanic Garden

Insiders know that spring is officially here when the Antiques, Garden & Design Show opens at the Chicago Botanic Garden on April 17. The Show—formerly known as the Antiques & Garden Fair—has been reinvented for 2015, and promises to inspire stylish living while offering beautiful gardens and objects in a way that transcends the ordinary. It’s all about new: stunning new indoor gardens designed by Craig Bergmann Landscape Design, new items—including a horticulture section—and a new, stronger layout.

The Antiques, Garden & Design Show is configured in special pavilion tents and is woven through the spaces of the Regenstein Center, allowing visitors to wander aisles of treasures throughout the weekend. New this year, the Rose Garden horticulture tent will turn into a true garden experience. In the horticulture tent, visitors will find tabletop topiaries, potted succulents, heirloom seeds, rustic and contemporary containers, gardening tools and books, outdoor furniture, and much more. Other areas of the Show will include garden antiques, antiques, midcentury modern decor, vintage design items, fine art, and gifts and treats galore in our market courtyards.

Be the first to experience the Antiques, Garden & Design Show at a special preview evening on Thursday, April 16, from 6-10 p.m. Those attending the Preview Evening will be the first to experience the Show as they enjoy priority shopping and elegant fare; complimentary valet parking is included.

Another feature of the Show are the lectures by special guests. On Friday, April 17, at 11 a.m., Mario Buatta will present “If You Can’t Hide It, Decorate It.” Mario Buatta is an internationally acclaimed interior designer known for his English Country House style. He has brought the refinement, comfort, and beauty of his designs to a long list of clients including Barbara Walters, Malcolm Forbes, Mariah Carey, and to Blair House—guest quarters for the president of the United States. Affectionately known as “The Prince of Chintz,” Buatta will speak about his fifty-years-and-counting decorating career, sharing insights into his process and personal stories of his dazzling career in the world of American decorating. His book, Mario Buatta: Fifty Years of American Interior Decoration showcases Buatta’s notorious wit and famous sense of humor in resplendent form.

On Saturday, April 18, at 11 a.m., Mac Griswold will present “Green Grandeur: The Rarefied Simplicity of Bunny Mellon’s Garden Style.” Mac Griswold, journalist and garden historian, has taught landscape history at Sarah Lawrence College, where she held the Noble Chair in Art and Cultural History, and has lectured widely in America and Europe. She is the author of four books: Pleasures of the Garden, The Golden Age of American Gardens, Washington’s Gardens at Mount Vernon, and most recently, The Manor. She has won a Guggenheim Fellowship and has written for the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and Travel + Leisure.

Ticket Information:

Advance (when purchased on or before April 16)
One-day ticket: $12 members/$15 nonmembers

Show weekend (purchased after April 16)
One-day ticket: $15 members/$18 nonmembers

Three-day pass makes sure you don’t miss a single booth: $20

  • Tickets available online and at the Visitor Center
  • Children under 16 free with an adult
  • Regular parking fees apply
  • For safety reasons, strollers will not be permitted in the Show.

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