Thank you for choosing to visit the McLaughlin Garden! We are a non-profit garden open to the public.

We rely on your donations and support to help us organize and host a free or low-cost schedule of events each season. Although visiting the garden and most of our programs are free, we do have some events and programs that we ask for a fee to enter. We host 5 major fundraising events, most of which have just a $5 admission fee, that provide great value to the garden and hopefully to you.

Artists who hold workshops/classes here at the garden set their own fee and donate a portion of their proceeds back to the garden. Please note if the event you are planning to attend has a fee. Donations above and beyond the admission fee are always gratefully accepted. Cash for $5 admission fees is preferred but credit cards and checks will always be accepted.

Please call 207-743-8820 if you have any questions about our events and programs. We can’t wait to see you at the garden this season!

July 2022

McLaughlin Art Gallery exhibit welcomes July Artist of the Month Sophia Maamouri. Please join us for an Artist’s Reception on Friday, July 1st from 5:30p to 7:30p

Thursday, July 7- 6:00 pm-8:00 pm
Thursday Night in the Garden #4- “Planting a Moss Garden” with Becky Moening of Swallowtail Garden. Learn about different types of mosses, ideal planting sites and garden layout while Becky builds a moss garden right here at McLaughlin Garden.

Saturday, July 9- 1:00pm- 4:00 pm-
Musubi Stone Wrapping Level 2 with Cynthia Atkinson- For all of you who joined us for the beginner Musubi Stone Wrapping class here at McLaughlin Garden last fall and last month, now is your chance to build on your new craft. You’ve learned the basics of Musubi Stone Wrapping and now it’s time to learn some new and more intricate wrapping techniques. All materials will be supplied, including the leather cord, but please bring 2-3 of your own palm sized roundish stones. It’s so much fun to allow a river or beach stone to choose you for this project! $45 fee. RSVP by calling 207-743-8820 or email info@mclaughlingarden.org

Tuesday, July 12-9:30am-12:00pm
Power Propagators– Join Foothills Garden Club members and McLaughlin volunteers in the barn for propagating and potting up plants from the McLaughlin Garden to support our plant sale.

Thursday, July 14- 6:00 pm-8:00 pm
Thursday Night in the Garden #5- Botanical Cocktails with Mixologist Spencer Neuman. CANCELLED

Thursday, July 21- 6:00 pm-8:00 pm
Thursday Night in the Garden #6- Shibori (Japanese manual tie-dyeing technique) and Indigo Painting with Mary DeLano.  Mary will guide you every step of the way as you try your hand at creating a uniquely patterned bandana. Class limited to 18 students.

Friday, July 22- 6:30 pm-7:30 pm
Sebago Long-Lake Music Festival Concert– We are so lucky! This season marks the 50th Anniversary for Sebago Long Lake Music Festival at Deertrees Theater and we are honored to be hosting their musicians in the McLaughlin Barn this season. The string quartet, consisting of 2 violinists, a violist and a cellist, will carry you away with their performance in the historical barn.  Families could come at 5:30 or 6:00 to picnic and then into the barn at 6:30 for the performance. All are welcome. Donations will be gratefully accepted.

Sunday, July 31- 9:00 am-4:00 pm
Eco-Printing Workshop with Mary Delano– Record your visit to McLaughlin Garden by printing our plants on fabric! Maine fiber artist Mary DeLano will teach you the art and craft of Eco-printing; a process where plant materials are placed on specially treated fabric and then steamed to release the pigments in the plants, leaving realistic prints of the plants on the fabric. During this full day class, participants will learn about which plants print reliably and will have a chance to experiment with other plants.  Students will take home one silk scarf and  1 ¾ yards of printed fabric, including silk, cotton and linen. RSVP required. Payment is due at time of registration. Non-members $135, members $125. Registration closes on July 14th. No refunds after that time unless the class is cancelled.

Thursday, July 28- 6:00 pm-8:00 pm
Thursday Night in the Garden #7– “Come Together” for Beatles Night: Live Music and Trivia with pianists Danielle Tran (currently playing with The Cobblestones, and you may also remember her from last year’s Thursday Night in the Garden series “A Night at the Movies” with her son Sam on violin) and Dawson Hill (currently playing with the Jason Spooner Band). Professional musicians Danielle and Dawson will play, not at the “Octopus’s Garden” but at the “McLaughlin Garden”, their favorite Beatle’s tunes and test your knowledge with Beatles related trivia questions. We could listen to Danielle and Dawson “Eight Days a Week”.

August 2022

McLaughlin Art Gallery exhibit- August Artist of the Month-Rebecca Hoskins

Tuesday, August 9- 9:30am-12:00pm
Power Propagators– Join Foothills Garden Club members and McLaughlin volunteers in the barn for propagating and potting up plants from the McLaughlin Garden to support our plant sale.

Friday, August 26- 7:00 pm-8:30 pm-
Flower Power Family Fun Night– Children’s Event- A super charged party for the family, geared especially for your kids. Dress your children up as a favorite super hero or in their favorite “save the day” attire and enjoy dancing, crafts, lawn games, a scavenger hunt and other fun set against the back drop of their own mini Garden Illuminated. Explore the paths in the Garden and maybe come across a super hero or two to shake hands with. Cool Treats for Charity ice cream cart will be on site serving up ice cream and popsicles. $5 per person.

Saturday, August 27 8pm to 10pm

Garden Illuminated – Please join us for this late summer evening experience that will dazzle your senses. Hundreds of candles light up the pathways through the Garden creating an intimate and “other-worldly” display. Connect with family and friends under the stars while walking through the Garden with a cold drink in hand, as the perfumed air of a warm summer evening in the garden dances with the live music flowing from the barn. Inside the historic barn, be captivated, and maybe even swooned, by this years feature band: The Jason Spooner Band. Light refreshments and a cash bar featuring the best beers in Maine from Geary Brewing Co. will be available. This is one of McLaughlin’s signature fundraising events and will be an evening that you won’t forget. $20 per ticket or 2 for $30. Purchase Tickets HERE

September 2022

McLaughlin Art Gallery exhibit–September Artist of the Month- hooked rugs by various local artists

Saturday, September 10-10:00 am-4:00 pm-
Art in the Garden-Enjoy the end of the summer by visiting the McLaughlin Garden and watch artists capture the season in paint. Plein Air painting, art for sale, art demonstrations, live music, and an art auction are all experiences you can expect.. Plein air painters will be painting throughout the garden all day. Shop for art in artist’s tents outside or visit art shows hanging in the barn, on the enclosed porch, and in the McLaughlin Garden Art Gallery. Stop by the all day eco-printing demonstration or watch rug hookers working on their crafts. Attend the stained glass demonstration at 10:30a and then join the  geli-printing demonstration at 11:30a or 2p. End the day by bidding on a piece of art created by participating plein air artists. The auction will start at 2p.m. See the latest rug hooking creations made by our local rug hookers group hanging in the McLaughlin Art Gallery. The Gift shop will be open where you will find additional handmade items and cards. Art in the Garden is a free event and all are welcome.

Tuesday, September 13- 9:30am- 12:00pm
Power Propagators- Join Foothills Garden Club members and McLaughlin volunteers in the barn for propagating and potting up plants from the McLaughlin Garden to support our plant sale.

Saturday, September 17-9:00 am-3:00 pm-
Printmaking with Geli plates- Geli “plates” are soft printmaking surfaces in which many different textures and stencils can be used to create a variety of beautiful layers and patterns. Join artist Sarah Shepley in the historic McLaughlin barn and learn the process of Geli Printmaking. In this class participants will spend the day exploring the varied use of different textures ( textured papers, fabric, wooden stamps, lace, flora, string etc.) and will learn how to create surface designs as well as narrative pieces. After introducing the basics, Sarah offers demonstrations on the hour using stencils, mat mediums, rainbow rolls as well as other techniques. All materials provided, no experience necessary. Class runs from 9:30-4:00. $160.00. Please RSVP by calling the McLaughlin Garden at 207-743-8820 or by email to info@mclaughlingarden.org

October 2021

McLaughlin Art Gallery exhibit-October Artist of the Month- Lynn Driscoll

October 12-13 Wednesday 10p-8p & Thursday 10a-6p-
Pumpkin Carving Room– Try your hand at carving pumpkins to be displayed in our annual Jack O’Lantern Spectacular event. We will provide the gutted pumpkins, the tools, templates of carving ideas, inspiration and camaraderie- plus we clean up the mess. All pumpkins will be displayed in our Jack O’Lantern Spectacular event on Friday and Saturday night (14th & 15th). Carvers may pick up their pumpkins on Sunday the 16th to take home. No fee. Please call 743-8820 for additional information or to notify us if you will be attending with a large group.

October 14-15 (Friday-Saturday) 6p-9p-
Jack-o’-lantern Spectacular– Spend the evening enjoying a spectacular amount of carved and lit pumpkins lining the paths through the garden. Our surprise theme this year is out of this world and we can’t wait to share the pumpkin experience that we’ve created for you this season. Admission is $5 per person for guests 2 and older and includes cider and popcorn and use of the decorated photo booth in the barn. Please call 743-8820 to purchase tickets for gifting or for any questions. Mask wearing is strongly encouraged.

November 2021

November 12
Handmade Wreath Sale–

November 25, 26 & 27- Friday 11/25- 4p-8p, Saturday 11/26- 9am to 7pm, Sunday 11/27- 9am to 2pm
Festival of Trees– Glittering lights, magical displays, fantastic sounds of the holiday…this is what you can expect at the Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce 10th Annual Festival of Trees event to be held November 27-28 at the beautiful McLaughlin Garden in South Paris. The Chamber is currently accepting registrations from local businesses, organizations, groups and individuals to have the opportunity to submit their own decorated tree to create a winter wonderland in the Oxford Hills. You will become part of a magical community event by donating a decorated, artificial, holiday tree to the Festival of Trees. Your beautiful tree, along with your name, will be displayed throughout the event and viewed by the public. Raffle tickets will be sold and each amazing tree will find a new home at the end of the Festival.

December 1st through December 8th- 10 am (Thursday the 1st) to 10am (Thursday the 8th)
McLaughlin Garden Annual Online Auction– Visit www.mclaughlingarden.com and feel the excitement of bidding on a variety of items from the comfort of home. From a week-long stay in a Paris apartment to tickets to special events, you won’t find another auction catalog like it! This is one of our most important fundraising events of the year and we need your help meeting our fundraising goals! Bid high and bid often as all Auction proceeds go directly to supporting the development of our gardens and events & programming for all of us!

December 2021

Member Christmas Party TBD