It's that time of year again! 

UK home football games mean The Arboretum parking lot will be closed for public use on select Saturdays. That means the Kentucky Children's Garden, Dorotha Smith Oatts Visitor Center, and restrooms will also be closed on those days.

For a home game day, parking spots in The Arboretum parking lot are sold by UK athletics. Tailgating is not allowed. After the game is over and the parking lot has been cleared, the parking lot will once again be open for public use.

For reference, here is our Fall schedule for hours of operation: 

August

Week 4

• The visitor center is open Tuesday, August 26th to Friday, August 29th
• The Kentucky Children's Garden is open Wednesday, August 27th to Friday, August 29th
• Closed Saturday, August 30th for the UK home football game

September

Week 1

• Closed Monday, September 1st for Labor Day
• The visitor center is open Tuesday, September 2nd to Friday, September 5th
• The Kentucky Children's Garden is open Wednesday, September 3rd to Friday, September 5th
• Closed Saturday, September 6th for the UK home football game

Week 2

• The visitor center is open Monday, September 8th to Friday, September 12th
• The Kentucky Children's Garden is open Wednesday, September 10th to Friday, September 12th
• Closed Saturday, September 13th for the UK home football game

Week 3

• The visitor center is open Tuesday, September 16th to Saturday, September 20th
• The Kentucky Children's Garden is open Wednesday, September 17th to Saturday, September 20th

Week 4

• The visitor center is open Tuesday, September 23rd to Saturday, September 27th
• The Kentucky Children's Garden is open Wednesday, September 24th to Saturday, September 27th

October

Week 1

• The visitor center is open Tuesday, September 30th to Saturday, October 4th
• The Kentucky Children's Garden is open Wednesday, October 1st to Saturday, October 4th

Week 2

• The visitor center is open Tuesday, October 7th to Saturday, October 11th
• The Kentucky Children's Garden is open Wednesday, October 8th to Saturday, October 11th

October 11th is Arbor Day! Come join us for this free day in the Kentucky Children's Garden!

Week 3

• The visitor center is open Monday, October 13th to Friday, October 17th
• The Kentucky Children's Garden is open Wednesday, October 15th to Saturday, October 17th
• Closed Saturday, October 18th for the UK home football game

Join us in a variety of classes and seminars for Tree Week, October 10th through October 19th. Find out More at Tree Week Lexington.

Week 4

• The visitor center is open Monday, October 20th to Friday, October 24th
• The Kentucky Children's Garden is open Wednesday, October 22nd to Friday, October 24th
• Closed Saturday, October 25th for the UK home football game

Week 5

• The visitor center is open Tuesday, October 28th to Saturday, November 1st
• The Kentucky Children's Garden is open Wednesday, October 29th to Saturday, November 1st

Saturday, November 1st is the last Kentucky Children's Garden day of the 2025 season. See you next year!

November

Week 1

• The visitor center is open Monday, November 3rd to Friday, November 7th
• Closed Saturday, November 8th for the UK home football game

Week 2

• The visitor center is open Monday, November 10th to Friday, November 14th
• Closed Saturday, November 15th for the UK home football game

The regular hours for the Dorotha Smith Oatts visitor center will remain Monday through Friday for the rest of year of 2025. The grounds, parking lot, and bathrooms will be open to the public Sunday through Saturday from sunrise to sunset.