Illinois State University’s Horticulture Center will celebrate its 20th anniversary during the annual Autumnal Festival on Saturday, September 13, and Sunday, September 14. This year’s theme, The Refrains of Nature: Revealing the World’s Hidden Patterns, will showcase the intersection of art, science, and community in the gardens.

Director of the Horticulture Center Jessica Chambers ’93, who has led the center since its founding, said the anniversary offers a moment to reflect on how far the center has come. When she started 20 years ago, the land was a corn and soybean field with only a conceptual plan.

“Pretty quickly, I realized that without any support or funds, that conceptual plan was going to take a long time,” said Chambers. “So then, I looked at it and I thought, ‘OK, what can I do?’ That was the prairie. That was really the first garden we started.”

The native prairie, which once covered most of the state, remains Chambers’ favorite feature of the Horticulture Center. She said visitors who experience the prairie gain a respect for Illinois’ natural history.

“Every time we have a visitor, I’m trying to share, educate, and just show them some really cool prairie plants,” she said. “Most Illinoisians don’t understand or grasp prairie at all.”

The Horticulture Center’s growth has been fueled by students, volunteers, and community partnerships. Chambers said the Autumnal Festival is not just a fundraiser but also a celebration of the people who sustain the center.

“Volunteers have become family,” she said.

Chambers said the festival is designed to offer more than entertainment.

“What makes it different than other fall festivals is that we really try—and I thoroughly believe in this noble pursuit of education—to make sure people learn something new,” she said. “In recent years, we’ve also added more art elements, from student showcases to volunteer artwork, because bringing nature and art together creates a really meaningful experience.”

Horticulture Center Assistant Director Joe Tulley ’24 grew up around the gardens. His parents volunteered at the center, and he eventually joined as a student worker before stepping into a leadership role last year.

“I kind of grew up with the center,” he said. “From being a little guy running around to now being assistant director—it’s definitely a full-circle moment.”

Tulley said this year’s festival will feature the newly revitalized Children’s Discovery Garden and expanded collaborations across campus.

“It’s been cool to see it grow and expand,” he said. “We started as more of a traditional fall festival with apple cider and hayrides, but over the years, we’ve focused more on the educational aspects of bringing the community together.”

Volunteers like Clarence Josefson said people are what make the center thrive. Josefon began by monitoring bird boxes, and he now helps maintain gardens alongside his wife.

“It’s the prettiest place in Bloomington-Normal, I think,” he said. “We work hard to make the flowers stay beautiful, and it’s just nice to be outside rather than watching your phone.”

Chambers said the longevity of the center is due to the community behind it.

“Over 20 years, so many people have given their ideas, their time, their donations, and their support,” she said. “This center would not exist without them.”

The Autumnal Festival will be held Saturday, September 13, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., and Sunday, September 14, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Admission is $10 for ages 13 and up, $5 for children ages 3-12, and free for children 2 and under. Tickets can be purchased online.