Dee Ann Benard – Director of UBC Botanical Garden
Message from the Director
As the crisp, cool air of autumn begins to set in, it reminds us that it’s almost time for the 33rd celebration of the UBC Botanical Garden Apple Festival!
As the Garden’s director, I am delighted to invite you to our biggest annual event and what has become a much-anticipated fall tradition at UBC Botanical Garden. Apple Festival, a beloved family event, is perfect for all ages, offering an array of activities that will be cherished and remembered for years to come. This year’s festival promises a fun-filled day including local food vendors, a children’s activity area, and our extremely popular apple tasting tent. A new highlight for this year is sweet and savoury cooking demonstrations by guest chefs, featuring creative and delicious recipes to satisfy our apple lovers.
Children’s Area: The leaf pile is always a crowd favorite with the kids
This is my first time experiencing Apple Festival right from the planning stage, so I am seeing first-hand the incredible amount of work that goes into creating this extraordinary event. Our Friends of the Garden (FOGs) Volunteers originally created Apple Festival as a fundraiser for UBC Botanical Garden. They continue to spend thousands of hours each year meticulously planning, organizing and carrying out the work to make it the great success it always is. The FOGs are aided by Garden staff, and together they put in a tremendous effort to orchestrate this event. It is truly exciting to see our Garden transform into a vibrant tapestry of apple varieties and a celebration of the harvest season’s magic that showcases our rich heritage and natural splendor.
FOG Volunteers at the UBC Botanical Garden Apple Festival
UBC Botanical Garden is currently working on developing a new vision, mission and strategic plan. We know Apple Festival will continue to be an integral part of our work, and an important way for the Garden to connect visitors with plants, science and nature—in a most delicious way!
Whether you are a long-time, repeat visitor or joining us for the first time, I know you will find joy and inspiration in the festivities. Your attendance at Apple Festival supports more than just a celebration of apples—it fuels the Garden’s efforts to collect and maintain important plants, educate the public about biodiversity and the impacts of climate change, conduct and support research, and develop public displays. We are deeply grateful for your support and enthusiasm.
Thank you notes from the children
I eagerly look forward to sharing this special event with you and making this festival experience a memorable one. Please join us on October 19 & 20 at the UBC Botanical Garden Apple Festival—I promise you will “apple-solutely” love it!
Dee Ann Benard
Director, UBC Botanical Garden