2026 Chicago Garden Walk Guide: A Showcase for Urban Oases

Patty Wetli | June 1, 2026, 10:53 am

Sheffield Garden Walk is one of Chicago's oldest. (Courtesy of Special Events Management)

After a long winter’s hibernation, Chicago comes alive in the summer, and that goes for its landscapes too.

Gardens in every shape, size and style are bursting with blooms and color — from container gardens on balconies to large-scale back yard retreats.

Admire the creativity of the region’s green thumbs and discover inspiration on garden walks, hosted by neighborhood associations and garden clubs across the area.

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Click on individual listings for hours, restrictions and admission fees, if applicable.

We’ve limited this round-up to Chicago and near suburbs, but feel free to share additional favorites in the comment section.

Recurring

The Secret Gardens of Riverside is a series of tours, offered between June and October, each providing exclusive access to an individual private garden, from a mini arboretum to a grand estate. Tickets are limited and cost $20 per event. Guests will receive the garden address on the day prior to the tour. The series kicks off June 17.

June

Old Town Art Fair & Garden Walk, June 13-14: The long-running Old Town Art Fair also includes a garden walk, with more than 60 stops. Be sure to pick up a map and venture into the neighborhood.

Irving Park Garden & Art Walk, June 13 (rain date June 14): This tour blends gardens with neighborhood points of interest and also incorporates works by local artists.

(Courtesy of Historic Pullman Garden Club)

Edgebrook Garden Walk, June 13: This community-focused event will showcase gardens in Old Edgebrook.

Historic Pullman Garden Walk, June 27: Artists from Urban Sketchers Chicago will be drawing and painting in the gardens. The event also features walking tours and a plant sale.

North Center Garden Walk, June 28: Celebrating its 20th year, this walk is also known for its live music. Trolley rides are available to help folks get from garden to garden.

Park Ridge Garden Walk, June 28: Gardeners will host artists on site, including woodworkers, painters, ceramicists and more.

Oak Park and River Forest Garden Walk, June 28: Public and private gardens are both represented on this tour.

Evanston Garden Walk, June 28: Organizers recommend biking between locations. Gardens represent various styles, from shade gardening to prairie.

July

Forest Park Garden Walk, July 11: Last year, a bonus gardener signed on spur of the moment the day of the walk, so who knows what Forest Park has up its sleeve for 2026.

Edgewater Glen Garden Walk, July 12: Organizers have set the date for the walk, but additional details are still to come. This North Side neighborhood has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places so a walk, period, is worth the visit.

Beverly/Morgan Park Garden Walk, July 12: Even though it’s one of the newest garden walks — launched in 2020 — this South Side event has quickly gained a following. Its footprint isn’t as compact as some other city tours, though, with organizers noting that houses aren’t within walking distance of each other.

(Courtesy of Historic Pullman Garden Club)

Bucktown Garden Walk, July 11-12: Organizers are still hammering out the details, but they've set the dates. Last year’s event featured more than 100 gardens.

Graceland West Garden Walk, July 12: Save the date, with more information still to come.

Greater Rockwell Organization Garden Walk, July 18: Two-flats still dominate this area off the CTA Brown Line’s Rockwell stop, where corner gardens tended by volunteers demonstrate how a little persistence and ingenuity can work wonders in forlorn sections of the parkway.

Westchester Garden Walk, July 18: Tour six gorgeous gardens across the village of Westchester and feel good about your $20 entry fee supporting the Westchester Food Pantry.

Sheffield Garden Walk, July 18-19: One of the stalwarts of Chicago’s garden walk season, Sheffield is celebrating its 55th annual event. For an added cost, buy tickets for a neighborhood architecture tour.

Dearborn Garden Walk, July 19: Now in its 66th year, the Dearborn Garden Walk has gained a reputation far outside Chicago. As visitors stroll from garden to garden, they’ll also be treated to architectural gems in the city’s historic Gold Coast and Near North neighborhoods.

West Cook Wild Ones, July 25: Wild Ones is a nonprofit that promotes the use of native plants in landscapes. The West Cook chapter hosts an annual walk highlighting different types of native gardens. This year’s will be centered in Brookfield and Riverside.

Ravenswood Manor Garden Walk, July 26: Closing out the season is the mother of Chicago garden walks, celebrating 69 years in this charming historic enclave. Stick around for a concert by the Horner Park Jazz Band following the walk.