The 2nd Annual Alpena Flower Festival is THIS weekend in Downtown Alpena! Prepare to be enchanted as downtown is filled with fresh blooms and floral-related activities, live music, themed co*cktails and more, from Friday 6/7 through Sunday 6/9, 2024.
Here are 10 things not to miss:
1. 45+ floral displays: Stroll downtown and enjoy planters, colorful swags, interactive floral photo-ops, and other stunning floral creations created by local florists. Pick up a map at any participating business. Don’t miss our showstoppers from our presenting sponsors:
- Thunder Bay Arts- 127 W. Chisholm St
- Center Building & Wenzel Bennett Harris PC- 109 N. Second Ave.
- Alpena CVB- Bay View Park
- Alpena DDA- Center Alley (between 2nd & 3rd)
- Alpena DDA- City Hall Lawn (208 N. 1st Ave)
- Alpena DDA- Avery Park (next to JJ’s)
2. Live music in the alleyway with WinaSchnitzel: wear your best florals and get ready to groove with Wina Schnitzel on Saturday 6/8 from 6-8 pm. WinaSchnitzel is an original rock band from Bay City, Michigan founded by siblings Steve and Shannon Schnettler. You can find Steve on the drums and Shannon as the lead singer, along with Alpena’s own Conor Larkin! Grab a drink from the Social District and join us in the alleyway between 2nd & 3rd Ave for live music, fresh florals, and live painting with Mariah Brancheau.
3. Food Trucks: Need a quick meal during the festival? Stop by following food trucks that will be set up downtown:
- Liv Schack & Smoking Trolls at PIF Cider: Friday from 12-10 pm
- Zoo’s Tasty Eatz at PIF Cider: Saturday from 1-10 pm
- 808 Bowlz at Red Brick Food Truck Court: Friday from 11 am- 7 pm & Saturday from 11 am- 4 pm
- The River St. Vault Bar at Red Brick Food Truck Court: Friday from 11 am- 8 pm & Saturday 11 am- 8 pm
4. Floral Inspired Drinks: Grab a drink and stroll through the floral installations. Get your limited edition Flower Fest Social District cup throughout the festival at Mango’s, Black Sheep Pub, Rusty Petunias, Thunder Bay Winery, Red Brick, HopSide Brewery, Player’s Pub, JJ’s, or PIF Cider. Enjoy themed drink specials including:
- Full menu of Flower Fest drinks at Cabin Creek Coffee
- Lavendar cider co*cktail & mocktail at PIF Cider
- Floral-themed co*cktails at Rusty Petunias Marketplace
- $5 floral martinis at Old Polish Corner (3-6 pm everyday)
5. Live installation demo: See how the magic is made as Tara Wilson from Lasting Expressions creates a floral installation LIVE in Culligan Plaza on Saturday 6/8 from 12-3 pm.
6. Walking tour: New this year, festival organizers will be leading a walking tour of all the installations on Sunday 6/9 from 1-2:30 pm. Route is just under 3 miles. Grab a Social District drink and your walking shoes. Meet in Culligan Plaza.
7. Flower trucks and flower bars: Get your own fresh blooms to take home during the festival. Florists will be set up during the festival to get your own bouquet:
- Friday from 5-7 pm: Classic Designs by Doreen Thomas CF at Thunder Bay Winery during Bubbles & Blooms
- Friday from 4-8 pm: Flower trucks with Lasting Expressions inCulligan Plazaand atCedar & Threads
- Saturday from 11 am- 2 pm: Flower baratGlik’swith Classic Designs by Doreen Thomas CF
- Saturday from 9:30 am- 5 pm:Flower trucks with Lasting ExpressionsinCulligan Plazaand atCedar & Threads
8. Artists painting LIVE: Four local artists will be plein-air painting special pieces of artwork outdoors throughout the festival! Check them out:
- Mariah Brancheau: Friday from 5-7 pm & Saturday from 6-8 pm in the alleyway
- Samantha Freske: Friday from 5-7 pm and Saturday from 3-5 pm in Culligan Plaza. Sunday from 2/4 pm at PIF Cider.
- Lindsay Donajkowski: Friday & Saturday from 6-8 pm in Red Brick Food Truck Court
- Dorothea Sandra: Friday from 4- 8 pm & Saturday from 11 am- 7:30 pm in front of Thunder Bay Arts
9. Coloring Contest: Lovely Little Lettering Co. designed two fabulously floral coloring sheets just for the festival! Free for ALL AGES. Pick them up when you’re downtown and drop them off at Cedar & Threads or Rusty Petunias Marketplace by Sunday at 4 pm for a chance to win Downtown Dollars and other flower fest goodies. Winners announced Monday.
10. Snap a photo in front of dazzling displays: This year, our four florists are bringing even more interactive photo ops to the festival! Make sure to tag any photos with @downtownalpena and use #alpenaflowerfestival when you post to social media.
We can’t wait to see you at Michigan’s most creative floral festival. Join us in Downtown Alpena, located in Northeast Michigan on the shores of Lake Huron.
For a full schedule of events, visit here: https://www.downtownalpenami.com/flowerfest.html
The Alpena Flower Festival is organized by the Alpena Downtown Development Authority (DDA) with the goal to spark moments of joy and connection in downtown through florals. This event is made possible through the generous sponsorships of 45 downtown businesses and the work of florists Lasting Expressions Flower Shop, Classic Designs by Doreen Thomas CF, Falls Creek Produce & Flowers, and Flowerland Designs.
