Swissvale Edible Garden Tour

Now in its 8th year, the Swissvale Edible Garden Tour has become more than just a fun, free community event - it has also created network of gardeners throughout Swissvale and the region who inspire each other and support new gardeners in growing food in our communities. This annual event is great way to spend some time outside connecting with your community and getting ideas for your own current or future garden.

This year’s tour will be on Saturday, July 11, 2026. Open Gardens will take place between 9:00am - 1:00pm, followed by a Community Picnic from 1:00pm - 3:00pm.

9:00AM-1:00PM: Open Gardens (private gardens all over Swissvale) - See how a wide range of local gardeners grow food (and more) and meet the gardeners! Stop by the Info Table (details TDA) to pick up event guides, ask questions, and fill your reusable water bottle. The event guide and map will also be available online. Visit as many or as few garden as you’d like, in any order.

This year’s tour features gardens all over the borough - no one is expected to rush around all morning and see them all! Most people set a leisurely pace and see as many gardens as they can comfortably wander around to in four hours, chatting to gardeners and other tour-goers along the way. We do recommend starting on the early side, especially if it’s a hot day.

1:00PM-3:00PM: Community Picnic (details TBA) - It’s our summer garden party! Join us for food, activities for all ages, and entertainment.

The tour will include gardens throughout the borough, including the spaces of newer, experienced, and more experimental gardeners. Visitors can expect to see a diverse array of garden features such as kitchen gardens, fruit trees, and native plants.

We hope this event inspires you to consider growing your own food (on your own or with neighbors) and/or support local farmers at the market. Creating local food systems helps form a more interconnected, resilient community.

Through this free, community-wide event, we also hope to showcase Swissvale as a great place to garden, visit, and live! We promote the real and tangible benefits of gardening; gardening beautifies and connects communities, promotes physical and mental well-being, and has far-reaching ecological benefits. We hope to build confidence in newer gardeners and inspire young people to get their hands dirty and get growing. And even if you’re not a gardener, it’s a great way to spend a summer Saturday meeting passionate people and connecting with community members!