The Festival events begin on Thursday, April 9 with a Museums à la Carte lecture at 12:15 PM titled “Great Gardens of the Northeast” by landscape designer Adriana O’Sullivan. The cost to attend is $2 for members, $4 nonmembers.

That evening, visitors can enjoy a special Culture & Cocktails event 5 to 8 pm. Guests can view the colorful arrangements in all four museums and watch the Floral Fashion show featuring accessories and hats adorned with fresh flowers – always one of the most popular elements of each year’s festival. The evening, which also includes music, specialty cocktails and hors d’oeuvres by Log Rolling Catering, is $5 for museum members and $20 for nonmembers (21 and over only).

Another must-see moment is the annual Floral De¬sign Challenge on Saturday, April 11 at 1 pm, when local floral designers will compete to create the most striking and original creations using only “surprise” materials. Tours by museum docents highlighting many of the floral interpretations will also be available on April 10-12 (11:30 am– 3:30 pm; free with museum admission).

The Museum School will also offer courses related to the Festival. On Friday, April 10, instructor Paul Leveille will teach a one-day class in creating “Floral Art with Pastels.” Later that month, artist Christina Mastrangelo will offer an in-depth oil painting course titled “Flower Painting in the Studio” (three day course, April 15-17). To register, call 413.263.6800, ext. 377 or 382, or visit www.springfieldmuseums.org.

Festival of Flowers is generously sponsored by Flowers, Flowers!, with additional support from by Dave DiRico’s Golf and Racquet, Durocher Florist, Gardeners on the Green in Longmeadow, MA, Heartfelt Fine Gifts, Pat Parker and Sons Florists, Pennock Floral, Randall’s Farm and Greenhouse, and Springfield Florists Supply Inc. For more information about Festival of Flowers, please visit springfieldmuseums.org or call 413.263.6800, ext. 386.