2026 Event Highlights
The Garden & Green Living Expo is thrilled to once again welcome guests to a glimpse of spring in the middle of winter. PBS Wisconsin is proud to host this educational community event and fundraiser. From the buzz of the exhibitor mall to the bounty of knowledge shared by our presenters, Garden & Green Living Expo offers many opportunities for you to delve into the latest trends in gardening, landscaping, local foods and ecological sustainability. Check back for updates!
Educational Lectures and Stage Demos
Explore a wide variety of educational opportunities to pique your curiosity, all facilitated by leading educators, presenters, and community members.
Workshops
Workshops are back at Garden & Green Living Expo!
This year’s event features a series of workshops hosted by Chelsey Walker Creative, Emily Marie Watercolors and Fitchburg Farms in partnership with Garden & Green Living Expo. Learn how to create an air plant terrarium, fruit & flower arrangement, succulent jewelry or watercolor floral bookmark!
Bouquet Bar
New in 2026, the Garden & Green Living Expo will feature a bouquet bar where you select beautiful blooms, combine them and carry away a floral arrangement that is uniquely yours. Created and offered by Bee Havens Flower Farm, the bouquet bar will be located in the Front Lobby outside of Hall A all three days of the event.
Exhibitor Mall
More than 150 exhibitors join us at the Garden & Green Living Expo to share the latest trends in gardening, landscaping, local foods and ecological sustainability.
PBS KIDS Backyard
Cultivate a love for gardening and the outdoors with your entire family in PBS KIDS Backyard! In addition to the PBS KIDS Backyard Passport activities, the area will feature play sets, a trampoline and cornhole boards. Every day is “Family Day” at the Garden & Green Living Expo, with special highlights throughout the weekend including character Meet & Greets.
Backyard equipment provided by PlayN Wisconsin.
Standard Flower Show
The Madison District’s Garden Clubs present Flights of Fancy a Standard Flower Show held during the 2026 Garden & Green Living Expo. Join the fun and try out your design skills. You do not need to be a garden club member to enter the show.
Food Scrap Recycling
The Dane County Department of Waste & Renewables is excited to partner with PBS and the Alliant Energy Center to collect and recycle food scraps from the Garden & Green Living Expo! In partnership with Purple Cow Organics, these food scraps will be composted to create a nutrient-rich soil amendment. All non-liquid food scraps will be accepted, not including any food service plates, packaging, or paper products. For general County compost information, visit our website at landfill.danecounty.gov/compost.
To take part in our food scrap collections at the Garden & Green Living Expo or to find out more about the County compost program, find the orange collection carts at our Scrap Stops in the food service area or by the Trash Lab exhibit!
Learn More about Organic Recycling Services in Dane County >
Dane County Trash Lab
Friday, February 13, Noon – 5 p.m.
Saturday, February 14, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday, February 15, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The Dane County Trash Lab is a mobile education experience housed in an upcycled cargo trailer. This imaginative exhibit was created in 2021 in collaboration with the Madison Children’s Museum to encourage individuals of all ages to rethink our relationship with waste, protect our environment and redesign our production and waste systems. Visitors to the Trash Lab can connect with information about Dane County’s landfill design, recycling and renewable energy programs through over ten interactive learning stations. The Trash Lab is wheelchair accessible and Spanish language materials are available.
Seed Swap with Seed Savers Exchange
Friday, February 13, 2-4 p.m.
Seed Savers Exchange will once again be at the Garden Expo to facilitate a seed swap! Participants are encouraged to bring open-pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO seeds to share with others. A selection of seeds will also be offered from the Seed Savers collection. Chat with representatives from Seed Savers Exchange and learn more about the organization and their facilitated gardener-to-gardener seed sharing community. Limited material available.
What to bring to the seed swap:
- Open-pollinated vegetable, flower, grain, or herb seeds.
- Information about the varieties you bring including crop type, variety, and year harvested.
- Baggies, paper packets, or other potential seed containers to take seeds home.
For more information on how to participate, please email [email protected] or call 563-387-5672.
Sunday Farmers Market
February 15, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The Farmers Market features farmers, food artisans and local food retailers. Products available at the market can include pickles and preserves, artisan cheeses, bakery, chocolate, greens, spices and herbs, hand-crafted meats and more.
Photo Competition Exhibit
Designed to bring another form of imagery and perspective to Garden & Green Living Expo, the photography competition allows amateur photographers from Wisconsin to demonstrate their skills and display their work. Photographs will be juried prior to the event, and selected photographs will be exhibited at the 2026 Garden & Green Living Expo.
Raffle
Win great gardening prizes in the Garden & Green Living Expo Raffle! Purchase tickets at the PBS Wisconsin booth near the main entrance. Tickets are $3 each, four for $10 or ten for $20.
All proceeds support PBS Wisconsin. Winners need not be present to win. Full contest rules are available at the PBS Wisconsin booth during the show.
