Danny Federico
editor@riverbendnews.org
Spring is in full bloom, and with it comes one of Suwannee County’s most anticipated outdoor events. The Wildflower Festival & Plant Sale will return Saturday, May 2, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Heritage Park & Gardens, offering a full day of live entertainment, educational programs and fun activities for attendees of all ages.
However, the fun begins the evening prior with “Chalk Art on the Trail” on Friday, May 1, at 5:30 p.m. along the Heritage Trail. The free event invites participants to create colorful sidewalk art, with chalk being provided. Later that evening, families can enjoy a special Movie Night screening of “A Bug’s Life” at 8 p.m. at Heritage Park & Gardens – be sure to bring a chair or blanket!
Visitors will be able to enjoy a wide variety of attractions throughout the day, including plant sales, an art sale hosted by the Live Oak Artists Guild, and a health expo. Families will find plenty to enjoy as well, with a dedicated kids zone featuring hands-on activities, including felted bookmark making, safety demonstrations, puppet shows, owl pellet dissection, planting wildflowers, interactive bilingual storytime and crafts and a “build a bug” activity.
Live music will take center stage at the pavilion throughout the day, beginning at 9 a.m. with the Sound of Suwannee drumline. Other scheduled performers include SongFarmers at 10 a.m., the Kentucky Sleepy Hollow Bluegrass Band at 1 p.m., Anna Stange at 2:15 p.m., Simply Tony at 3 p.m., Gray Murder at 3:45 p.m. and another performance by Simply Tony at 4:30 p.m.
Educational opportunities will also be a highlight of the event. Inside the Don Allen Cultural Center, a series of presentations will cover a range of topics. Beginning at 11 a.m., Elizabeth Toms from Rewild Nursery will cover “Native Gardening for Beginners”; at noon, Linda Smock will host “Re-wilding Your Yard”; James Shepard from Flippin Bee Company will host a bee presentation at 1 p.m.; Jennifer Houston from Wild Roots Collective will present “A Journey Into the Wild Nearby” beginning at 2 p.m.; and Mikael Boyd from The Greenwood Vale will present “The Nature of Pottery” at 3 p.m.
Activities will be ongoing throughout the festival, including games, a scavenger hunt, obstacle courses and vendor booths. A tie-dye station will also be available for attendees to create their own shirts for $15 while supplies last.
For more information, visit www.suwanneefestivals.org.
Heritage Park & Gardens is located at 1004 Helvenston St. S.E. in Live Oak.