Want to visit the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens for FREE? Here’s how:
You and a friend have a chance to waive the $19 admission to the beautiful, bayfront display of rare tropical plants. All you have to do is keep your eyes peeled for a pair of hidden binoculars.
“We want to encourage everyone to come and play in their backyard and enjoy the Gardens this summer,” said Jennifer O. Rominiecki, president and CEO of Selby Gardens. “Finding one of these sets of binoculars is like finding a golden ticket.”
Will you be one of the lucky ones to find the free passes to Selby Gardens? Photo provided by Selby Gardens
This week, 40 pairs of binoculars are being hidden throughout Manatee and Sarasota counties – from Lakewood Ranch to the Gulf Coast, from Bradenton and Sarasota, down to Venice and North Port. You’ll find the binoculars in public spaces like parks and shopping areas.
The binoculars are inside small black cases marked “Marie Selby Botanical Gardens” with a big sticker advertising a “Prize Inside!”
Inside you’ll find a set of binoculars that you get to keep and a pair of passes that can be used any time from May 31 to July 31.
That means 80 people get to explore Selby Gardens for free this summer.
“The idea really was to engage people who live here year-round and invite them into the gardens and see the activities that are happening and the improvements that have been made,” said Mischa Kirby, director of marketing and communications for the Gardens.
Don’t forget to bring the binoculars on your excursion through the gardens. And if you need a plus one, I’m always available.
Happy hunting!