6 Cities With Flower Festivals to Freshen Your Spring

Is there anything even half as romantic as lying in a field of flowers in full bloom? Unlikely. Therefore, with spring finally making an appearance, it’s time to trade your parka for a light jacket and take a stroll around the park. Of course, the vibrant scenery will be a welcome change, and with April and May being prime flower-viewing months, there will certainly be a variety of sights to admire. And what better way to enjoy the wonders of nature than to attend a flower festival?

So, if you’re ready to shake off those pesky, lingering winter blues, here are six cities with flower festivals so colorful and lively that they’ll freshen up your spring.

Nantucket, MA

The Nantucket Daffodil Festival started off with 250 entries of daffodils. Then, it grew to include an antique car parade that had more than 80 cars participating at one point. In fact, the line was so long that it ended with the very first car of the parade following behind the last one. While the number of cars is nowhere near as big nowadays, the flower festival more than makes up for it with a window-decorating contest, a Daffy Hat contest and the ‘Sconset Tailgate Picnic. Oh, and the sight of around 2 million daffodils now planted there must be simply breathtaking.

Asheville, NC

If “Bridgerton” made you fall in love with opulent, lavish gardens, then you might want to take a quick trip to Asheville. The gardens of the gorgeous Biltmore Estate — designed by the famous landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted — offer visitors a magnificent display of tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and azaleas which are celebrated in the annual flower festival known as Biltmore Blooms. Here, you can be enchanted by the impressive Azalea Garden and Conservatory that will make you feel like you’ve stepped right into a Regency-inspired movie scene.

Skagit Valley, WA

Known as one of the largest flower festivals in the U.S., the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival actually began as a garden worth five dollars’ worth of tulip bulbs. Eventually, it grew so large that it now includes four farms: Roozengaarde, Tulip Town, Tulip Valley Farms and Garden Rosalyn. As you might expect, the main attraction is the scenic drive that you can take around the area, which will allow you to enjoy the colorful flower tapestry. But, there are also some extra activities available if you need to give your hands a break from taking photos. Namely, art shows, painting classes and even an evening light show are offered to visitors who want to make the most of their trip.

Portland, OR

A rose by any other name would probably not smell as sweet as those displayed during the Portland Rose Festival, which delights with its beautiful selection of roses, as well as fun and unusual activities. Specifically, the Spring Rose Show allows visitors to enjoy impressive rose exhibits grown by rose enthusiasts from across the Pacific Northwest, while the Starlight Parade is the perfect opportunity to witness a selection of illuminated floats. If that isn’t enough, the Grand Floral Parade features not only all-floral floats, but also vintage vehicles, dancers and apparently llamas! And, if you’re lucky enough, you might even have an encounter with royalty: Every year, the Rose Festival’s Queen Coronation picks one monarch to represent Portland.

Rochester, NY

A hit with bonsai enthusiasts in recent years, the appeal of lilacs lies in their ability to thrive in almost any kind of soil with minimal difficulty. Accordingly, their headstrong nature is so impressive that it more than justifies dedicating an entire flower festival to them. Held in Rochester’s Highland Park, the Lilac Festival dates back to 1898 and is one of the region’s most anticipated events. Alongside fellow flower enthusiasts you can enjoy various activities, such as the Lilac Parade, the Highland Hospital Lilac Run and even a few live performances.

Winchester, VA

Although not as popular as the fruit itself, apple blossoms have their own appeal: Their white and pink coloration makes them look pleasant and delicate, and you can even turn them into tea. In order to celebrate their many qualities, Winchester, VA, holds the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival, during which the city is decorated in green, pink and white to better resemble the flowers themselves. It’s a great family destination for a spring trip with several events, such as an apple pie-baking contest, a carnival and even a circus during the festival.