The Springfield Museums will be in bloom with the return of Festival of Flowers, April 6-9, 2017. This year’s celebration will feature over four dozen objects from the art, history and science collections creatively interpreted by local florists, designers, and garden club members. Over 4,000 people flocked to the event last year, and the Festival has become one of the most anticipated moments in the Museums’ calendar. Festival of Flowers is free with museum admission.
The festivities begin on Thursday, April 6 with a Museums à la Carte lecture at 12:15 PM titled “Archives of American Gardens: Capturing Garden History” by Cynthia Brown, manager of horticulture collections management and education at the Smithsonian Gardens. The cost to attend is $2 for members, $4 nonmembers.
That evening, visitors can enjoy a special Culture & Cocktails event from 5 to 8 p.m. Guests can view the colorful arrangements in all four museums and floral fashion celebrating the Springfield Garden Club’s 100th anniversary. The evening, which also includes specialty cocktails and hors d’oeuvres by Log Rolling Catering, is sponsored by United Personnel. Admission is $5 for museum members and $15 for nonmembers (21 and over only); for reservations, call 413-314-6479, or visit SpringfieldMuseums.org/flowers.
A new element to this year’s Festival are Afternoon Tea parties held on Friday, April 7, and Saturday, April 8, both at 2 p.m. Guest will enjoy tea, light sandwiches and desserts among the colorful arrangements in the elegant setting of the Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts. The experience will feature small batch, handcraft blends generously provided by Tea Guys of Whately, MA, and delicious bites by Log Rolling Catering. Admission is $25 for museum members and $37 for nonmembers (museum admission included); reservations are required by April 3, call 413-314-6477, or visit SpringfieldMuseums.org/flowers.
Tours by museum docents highlighting many of the floral interpretations will also be available on April 7-9 (hourly, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.). Families can explore the world of flowers through hands-on activities and a performance of “I Spy Butterfly” by puppeteer Faye Dupras on Saturday, April 8 (10 a.m.-5 p.m.; puppet show at 1 p.m.). Both the tours and family activities are free with museum admission.
The Museum School will also offer courses related to the Festival. On Friday, April 7, instructor Robert Markey will teach a one-day class in floral mosaics. On Saturday, April 8, greenhouse technician Dan Babineau, takes participants through the process of creating a lush terrarium. Artist Annette Chittenden will lead a one-day workshop on April 8 in Zentangle botanical drawing. To register, call 413-314-6477, or visit SpringfieldMuseums.org/flowers.
Festival of Flowers is generously sponsored by Flowers, Flowers! and Durocher Florist, with additional support from Gardeners on the Green in Longmeadow, MA, Pennock Floral and Randall’s Farm and Greenhouse. For more information about Festival of Flowers, please visit SpringfieldMuseums.org/flowers or call 413-263-6800 ext. 386.
The MassMutual Foundation is the season supporter of the Springfield Museums.