Southport Garden Stroll
Event Calendar
June 4, 2026 & June 5, 2026
A Fundraiser for Pequot Library
Co-chaired by Libby McKinney Tritschler and Christopher Philip, Pequot Library’s signature summer fundraiser returns with an unforgettable celebration of beauty, community, and design. Enjoy exclusive access to a curated selection of Southport’s most exquisite private gardens, complemented by lively experiences throughout the event.
We are grateful to the homeowners who open their private sanctuaries in support of this special event. Each year brings a mix of new gardens and returning favorites, offering fresh discoveries and the chance to revisit beloved spaces as they evolve.
Festivities
Thursday, June 4
6:30 – 8:30 p.m. | Opening Night Cocktail Party
An elegant evening at a stunning private home, featuring cocktails, conversation, and a special guest appearance by Kathryn Herman, author of A Moment in Time: Designing a Country Garden. A festive start to a spectacular fundraiser. Learn more about the Opening Night Cocktail Party.
Friday, June 5
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Southport Garden Stroll (morning)
1:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Southport Garden Stroll (afternoon)
Featuring some of Southport’s finest private gardens, this self-guided walking tour starts at the heart of Southport Village at Pequot Library. Pick up your tour map and wind your way through a floral adventure in an idyllic seaside New England neighborhood. Explore some of the community’s most picturesque gardens, including a garden that has been recognized by the Archives of American Gardens at the Smithsonian Institution—a perennial favorite on the Southport Garden Stroll! Local garden enthusiasts will guide you through the most notable features of these bountiful landscapes.
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Vendor Village
Stroll the Great Lawn and discover a curated marketplace of local boutiques, artisans, and specialty vendors. Learn more about our exciting roster of participating vendors.
12:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Rosé Tent
Relax and refresh with rosé by the glass purchased with your Bud Bucks on Pequot Library’s Great Lawn.
Bud Bucks: Use your bud bucks to enter to win raffle items, enjoy a glass of rosé in our exclusive Rosé Tent, and partake in some treats along the stroll.
Parking
Parking Options: June 5, 2026
Map Key: Green = parking
1. Pequot Library: 720 Pequot Avenue, Southport
Parking lot plus street parking on the library side of Pequot Avenue and Westway Road
2. Wakeman Boys & Girls Club: 385 Center Street, Southport
Parking lot available 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Street parking on Center Street (2 hour limit).
3. Southport Congregational Church: 524 Pequot Avenue, Southport
Front parking lot available 9:00–11:30 a.m. and 1:00–4:00 p.m. Please do not park between 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
4. Trinity Episcopal Church: 651 Pequot Avenue, Southport
Parking lot available 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Sponsors
Become a Southport Garden Stroll sponsor! This signature fundraiser garners the interest of green thumbs, history buffs, and anyone looking for a quintessential slice of New England paradise. With over 800 attendees in recent years, the Garden Stroll is the perfect opportunity for local and corporate business sponsors to engage with a multitude of Pequot Library supporters while supporting the library and its vital role in the community.
Volunteer Opportunities
Be a part of the Southport Garden Stroll, one of Pequot Library’s signature fundraisers. Volunteer opportunities include everything from helping with check-in and festivities on the Great Lawn to greeting and guiding guests in our featured gardens. Your help makes it all possible!
Tickets
Explore the Opening Night Cocktail Party ticket levels and benefits .
Please note: Tickets for the Garden Stroll on Friday, June 5 will increase to $50 each on the day of the event.
Tickets are limited and non-refundable. All events will occur rain or shine. Pequot Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that relies on public support for funding. Contributions to Pequot Library are tax-deductible.
Opening Night Cocktail Party | 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Artfully curated by Co-Chairs: Christopher Philip and Libby McKinney Tritschler
Set within one of Southport’s most distinguished harborfront residences, this elegant evening will offer cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and the pleasure of conversation in a truly exceptional setting. The evening will feature special guest Kathryn Herman, the internationally recognized garden designer, who will reflect on her remarkable twenty-five-year restoration of the historic Pepperidge Farm estate—an enduring work of landscape artistry and vision.
Explore the benefits at each ticket level:
- The Founder’s Garden: $1,000
- The Estate Circle: $500
- The Conservatory Society: $250
- The Garden Assembly: $150
$1,000
The Founder’s Garden
Leadership Underwriting Level: For those who wish to shape the evening—and the future it supports.
Members of The Founders’ Garden represent the highest level of leadership for the Opening Night Cocktail Party, providing significant underwriting support that helps bring the Garden Stroll to life in its fullest expression. This level honors those whose generosity ensures that Pequot Library continues to flourish as a place of beauty, culture, and community.
Includes:
- Admission for four to the exclusive Cocktail Kickoff Party
- A personally signed copy of A Moment in Time by Kathryn Herman
- An exclusive Pequot Library tote bag
- Prominent recognition as a leading event underwriter
- Special acknowledgment during the evening
- The distinction of helping steward one of Pequot Library’s most cherished traditions
$500
The Estate Circle
Underwriting Level: For those who wish to play a leading role in an evening of distinction.
Members of The Estate Circle provide essential support that helps underwrite the Garden Stroll and bring this beloved tradition to life. This level reflects a deep commitment to preserving the beauty, elegance, and community spirit that define Pequot Library
Includes:
- Admission for Two to the exclusive Cocktail Kickoff Party
- A personally signed copy of A Moment in Time by Kathryn Herman
- An exclusive Pequot Library tote bag
- Recognition as an event underwriter
- Special acknowledgment throughout the evening
- The distinction of helping ensure the Garden Stroll flourishes
$250
The Conservatory Society
Sustaining Level: Inspired by the elegance of grand estates and cultivated gardens, The Conservatory Society reflects a shared appreciation for tradition, design, and community.
Your support helps sustain this signature event while offering a refined and festive evening among friends.
Includes:
- Admission for one to the Cocktail Kickoff Party
- A personally signed copy of A Moment in Time by Kathryn Herman
- An exclusive Pequot Library tote bag
- Recognition in event materials
- Meaningful support of Pequot Library’s mission
$150
The Garden Assembly
Celebration Level: An invitation to gather, connect, and celebrate in a beautiful garden setting.
The Garden Assembly offers a welcoming and elegant way to be part of this special evening, where conversation, charm, and community come together in timeless style.
Includes:
- Admission for one to the Cocktail Kickoff Party
- A personally signed copy of A Moment in Time by Kathryn Herman
- An exclusive Pequot Library tote bag
- A memorable opening night experience
Premier Event Sponsor
Southport Garden Stroll
On the Harbor is Pequot Library’s Premier Event Sponsor for the Southport Garden Stroll, one of our signature fundraisers. Explore Fairfield County luxury real estate with Libby McKinney Tritschler. Discover exclusive homes and enjoy personalized service.
The Southport Garden Stroll
Explore an Idyllic Seaside Village
Vendor Village: On the Great Lawn
Shop local businesses and farms, boutiques, artisans, makers, and markets
About Kathryn Herman
Pequot Library is delighted to have Kathryn Herman as the special guest at the Opening Night Cocktail Party on Thursday, June 4 at 6:30 p.m.
Kathryn Herman has been practicing landscape design for over twenty years. She has received numerous regional ASLA Honor Awards, the Stanford White Award (2016, 2019), the Palladio Award (2019), Veranda Magazine’s Outdoor Living Award (2021), and the Arthur Ross Award for Excellence in the Classical Tradition (2019).
Kathryn Herman Design is an award-winning landscape design studio based in New Canaan, Connecticut. Renowned for creating evocative and poetic outdoor sanctuaries, the firm brings a refined design sensibility and deep horticultural knowledge to projects across the country and abroad.
In A Moment in Time: Designing a Country Garden, Herman presents a four-season exploration of her own home, the beloved historic Pepperidge Farm estate in Connecticut, which she has tended and developed lovingly over thirty years, gradually developing various garden rooms with plenty of details to inspire home gardeners.
Become a Southport Garden Stroll Sponsor Today!
Partner with Pequot Library
With Sponsorship Packages starting at $500, no business is too big or too small to make the most of a Southport Garden Stroll partnership.
Sponsorships can be tailor-made to suit the specific outreach needs of your brand.
Southport Garden Stroll sponsorships include event tickets! Learn more about sponsorship benefits.
Sponsors & Supporters
Support the businesses and organizations that support Pequot Library!
