ALPENA – This June, Downtown Alpena has a new event to welcome the summer season and deck out downtown with fresh flowers. Large floral installations, floral photo-ops, and other flower-related activities will fill Downtown Alpena on Friday (6/2) and Saturday (6/3) for the first Alpena Flower Festival.
Nearly thirty businesses have sponsored floral installations that will be on display throughout downtown during the festival, ranging from colorful swags and wreaths on businesses’ doors to larger-than-life installations in areas like Culligan Plaza and the alleyway between 2nd and 3rd Avenue. Four local floral companies from the Alpena area – Classic Designs by Doreen Thomas CF, Lasting Expressions, Falls Creek Produce & Flowers, and Flowerland Designs – will be creating the installations made of fresh flowers and greens.
In addition to the floral installations, there will be floral-related activities throughout Downtown Alpena beginning Friday evening and continuing through Saturday. Some of these activities include:
- A special storytime at the Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library with author and artist Elisa Chavarri, followed by a floral crown workshop for kids (Saturday at 10am)
- Live music from the Alpena Street Performers throughout downtown (Friday from 5-7pm and Saturday from 3-5pm)
- A poetry walk with the Poetics Lab, where floral-themed poetry and artwork created by local youth will be on display in various downtown businesses
There will also be opportunities to take some fresh flowers home at a build-your-own bouquet bar hosted at Glik’s (111 N. State Ave) and two floral trucks from Lasting Expressions that will be at Cedar and Threads (133 E Chisholm St) and in the alleyway for the duration of the festival.
The event culminates with an alleyway party on Saturday, with live music from the Scholastic News at Rusty Petunias Marketplace from 3- 5pm followed by live jazz with the Dan White trio from 6- 8pm. The alleyway between 2nd and 3rd Ave will be decked out with flowers; attendees are encouraged to wear their best florals and enjoy a floral-themed cocktail as part of the Social District.
“We are hoping the community comes out to kick off the summer season in Downtown Alpena with this new event,” said Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Director Anne Gentry. “Our local florists have some beautiful, creative, and vibrant installations they will be creating for the festival. From live music to themed cocktails, from a poetry walk to storytime, there’s something for all ages to enjoy.”
You can view an official schedule and a map of installations here.
The Alpena DDA promotes positive economic, physical and aesthetic changes in Downtown Alpena. This post was made in partnership with the Alpena DDA.