The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden welcomed its millionth visitor this year. It’s the second year in a row the garden has reached more than a million visitors, and the milestone occurred over the Thanksgiving holiday.
The arboretum’s millionth visitor came in early December in 2016, so it achieved the mark even earlier this year. Total 2016 attendance was 1,095,051. The arboretum has had visitors from all 50 states and more than 90 countries.
According to the American Public Gardens Association, the arboretum joins only 12 others that have reached more than a million visitors annually.
“We want to thank our more than 39,000 members and donors for supporting us, along with 2,000 volunteers who have helped our garden grow and reach a million visitors,” stated J. Mark Wolf the arboretum’s board chairman, in a press release. “Our popular garden festivals, Dallas Blooms and Autumn at the Arboretum, are fantastic times to experience the outdoors each spring with half a million spring-blooming bulbs, and each autumn with 90,000 pumpkins, gourds and squash.
“ZimSculpt, an international sculpture exhibition, attracted more than 267,000 guests in the spring and summer months to watch hand-carved sculptures being made and to meet two of the Zimbabwean sculptors. Finally, The 12 Days of Christmas exhibition, which just opened this month, has brought many people during the day and more in the evenings with half a million lights illuminating the garden.”
