SANDWICH, MASS.- The curtain opened on Saturday, April 16, at Heritage Museums & Gardens, revealing the beauty of nature, the exhilaration of adventure, and Hollywood glamour. Heritage, located in historic Sandwich, MA, and the 100-acre home of the largest public garden in Southern New England, celebrates American culture and inspires people of all ages to explore, discover, and learn together.

The spotlight of the 2016 season is on the special exhibit CUT! Costume and the Cinema, featuring over 40 costumes worn by today’s biggest stars, including Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman, Heath Ledger, and Kate Winslet. Cinematic costume artistry is being displayed with props, movie backdrops, and film clips from audience favorites. Highlights of the exhibit include costumes worn by Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean), Robert Downey, Jr. (Sherlock Holmes), and Angelica Huston (Ever After). The exhibit, which runs from April 16-Oct. 10, is organized by Exhibits Development Group, USA in cooperation with Cosprop Ltd., London, England.

Away from the glitter and glamour, this year’s outdoor installation—Natural Threads—presents the imaginative works of 10 contemporary artists from across the country who share their ideas on the relationship between nature and the built environment. The fanciful sculptures set in the gardens and paths around Heritage’s gardens encourage visitors to get off the main paths and discover the partnership between art and the environment. Natural Threads will be on display from June 4-Oct. 10.

All of Heritage’s events and activities are rated G—great fun for families and people of all ages—including:

· Family Fun Fridays, which take place every week from July 8 to Sept. 2, tie into CUT! Costume and the Cinema. Families spend an enjoyable day together participating in activities inspired by such movies as Sherlock Holmes, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Ever After as they search for Cinderella’s lost slipper in the gardens, collect clues to solve a mystery, and enjoy musical performances. In addition, International “Talk Like a Pirate Day” Celebration, Hollywood Star Day!, Red Carpet Week!, and other themed events take place throughout Heritage.

· Heritage is renowned for its rhododendron and hydrangea gardens, and the 2016 season is a-bloom with the expansion of the hydrangea garden. Over the next five years, Heritage will create the most complete hydrangea collection in the U.S., including newly developed plants that showcase current industry research.

· Also opening on April 16 is The Adventure Park at Heritage, which includes five different aerial trails between the treetops.

· The new stars in this year’s Driven to Collect automobile collection are a 1934 Derby Bentley, reminiscent of the elegance and luxury conveyed in CUT! Costume and the Cinema, and a 1955 MG TF 1500. Also on exhibit is a special display of map wall art of the U.S. molded from recycled license plates by artist Stephen Blyth.