Bamboo can provide good cover for nesting birds. Come learn more at the UT Gardens Eggstravaganza, a family-friendly event intended for children 12 years old and younger. Pre-registration is required. Visit the UT Gardens website: ag.tennessee.edu/utg. Photo by R. Lester, courtesy USDA ARS.

The University of Tennessee Gardens is celebrating the arrival of spring with a fun family educational event on Saturday, April 1, 2017, from 10 a.m. to 2 pm.

The public is invited to come learn about wild birds, the vegetarian side of their diet and how to feed your favorite wild birds with their favorite foods and flowers. Families will learn how to attract birds to their home garden and create natural spring-inspired crafts.

All kids will leave with two bird feeders, a seed dispersal craft to attract wild birds, a bird seed mix with foods that catering to the preferences of your favorite backyard birds and young seedling that can grow to attract and feed birds in your garden! Kids will have an opportunity to hunt for 3,000 eggs in the UT Gardens. Children will also get a chance to win a prize or two.

In partnership with the Food Allergy Community of East Tennessee (FACET), Allergy & Asthma Affiliates, and the Allergy, Asthma and Sinus Center, the annual Eggstravaganza is food-free.

The Eggstravaganza is a family-friendly event and intended for children ages 12 and under. Bring your Easter basket and a camera!

The cost for Eggstravaganza is $8 per child ages 12 and under. Due to limited capacity and to ensure that everyone has an opportunity for an enjoyable visit, advanced registration is required. Please reserve your child’s space online at tiny.utk.edu/eggstravaganza by 5 p.m., Thursday, March 30.

You can find the UT Gardens in Knoxville just off Neyland Drive behind the UT Veterinary Medical Center on the UT Institute of Agriculture campus. From I-40 take Exit 386B onto Highway 129 (Alcoa Highway south toward the airport). From Highway 129 take the exit for Highway 158 (Neyland Drive). Turn left onto Neyland Drive at end of exit ramp. Turn left onto Joe Johnson Drive and right at the next light onto Chapman Drive. Free visitor parking is available directly across from the entrance to the UT Gardens.

The UT Gardens, Knoxville, is located on the campus of the UT Institute of Agriculture on Neyland Drive. For directions or for more details visit ag.tennessee.edu/utg.