NEWBURYPORT — The Museum of Old Newbury presents the 47th annual Old Newbury Garden Tour, scheduled for Saturday, June 13, and Sunday, June 14.
Ten featured gardens in Greater Newburyport will be open to ticket holders from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Tickets are valid for one or both days.
The theme, “250 Years of Growth”, is an homage to the originality, beauty and innovation of American gardens as the nation marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. From intimate urban pocket gardens to larger, more formal landscapes, the tour celebrates the many ways gardeners shape the places we live, gather, remember and grow.
The Old Newbury Garden Tour has been a beloved local tradition for nearly five decades, offering rare access to some of the area’s most beautiful and imaginative gardens. The tour is designed to inspire everyone from serious horticulturalists and garden designers to casual visitors who simply enjoy a beautiful day outdoors, according to Museum of Old Newbury Executive Director Bethany Groff Dorau.
“This year’s theme gives us a chance to think about gardens as living history,” Dorau said. “Gardens change from season to season and generation to generation, but they also represent continuity and community. That feels especially meaningful in 2026.”
During the tour, the Cushing House garden at the Museum of Old Newbury will host the museum’s annual plant sale, along with a pot and vase sale.
Visitors touring gardens in Amesbury are encouraged to stop at Lowell’s Boat Shop. The living museum and working boat shop on the Merrimack River will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday for self-guided tours, gift shop browsing, complimentary chilled lemonade, accessible restrooms, and a riverfront lawn where guests may enjoy a bagged lunch or snack. For more information, visit lowellsboatshop.org.
The event will be held rain or shine. Tickets are $25 for Museum of Old Newbury members and $40 for nonmembers. Ticket holders may begin at the museum at 98 High St. in Newburyport to pick up a garden tour guide, or use the digital guide that will be emailed to ticket holders a week before the event. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the museum during the tour.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit newburyhistory.org or call 978-462-2681.
Founded in 1877, the Museum of Old Newbury preserves and shares the history of Newburyport, Newbury and West Newbury through exhibitions, programs, publications and research access at its High Street campus, including the Cushing House and the Perkins Art and Research Center.