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Everything You Need to Know About the Northwest Flower and Garden Festival

Held annually in Washington State, the famed Northwest Flower and Garden Festival is the second-largest horticulture convention in the U.S. Green thumbs will love seeing the lush gardens, and those interested in getting into the industry can take educational seminars.

Whether you are in the horticulture industry or you’re an amateur gardening enthusiast, there’s something for everyone at the Northwest Flower and Garden Festival. Held each February in Washington State, this convention has been a crowd-pleaser since the show started back in 1989 at the hands of Duane and Alice Kelly. Duane’s inspiration came when he visited other large flower shows in Boston and Philadelphia as well as his own love of gardening. While the Kellys no longer own the festival — it was sold in 2009 to O’Loughlin Trade Shows — it remains a mainstay for experts and hobbyists alike.

Considered the second-largest flower and garden festival in the United States, the Northwest Flower and Garden Festival serves the western region of the United States and Canada. People flock to the festival as there’s almost an endless amount of activities over the five-day event. The biggest draw for most people are the inspiring show gardens.

Magnificent Show Gardens

Each year, the festival accepts 20 garden creators from the U.S. Pacific Northwest to transport you to a different location while also giving you some ideas to use for your own garden. While the 20 participants have plenty of time to design, these works of art are constructed in under 72 hours on the actual show floor.

Getting a coveted display garden spot isn’t easy. If you’re a designer or garden creator, you’ll be competing against hundreds of other entrants for those limited spots. However, if you do manage to get a spot, your work will be in front of nearly 60,000 attendees and hundreds of other industry veterans. There might even be celebrities who see your work. You also have the chance to win a gold, silver, or bronze medal from a three-judge panel. Even if you don’t win one of the main prizes, there are other special awards, such as:

  • Founders Cup: best in show
  • American Horticultural Society Environmental Award: demonstrates the bond between horticulture and the environment
  • Fine Gardening Magazine Award: balances ideals of inspiration and attainability
  • Best Use of Horticulture Award: incorporates color, texture, size, and shape
  • Professionals’ Choice Award: excellence in design, horticulture, and execution
  • GardenComm Outdoor Living Award: exhibits beautiful, creative, and educational ideas
  • Marenakos Award: best use of natural stone
  • Ethel Moss People’s Choice Award: the public’s favorite garden
  • Fred Palmer Garden Creator’s Award: voted most accomplished by other garden creators.
Festival Marketplace

Are you a hobbyist gardener looking for just the right plant to complete your garden? Or perhaps you’re a professional landscaper in search of some trusted local businesses to work with? You can find pretty much everything at the Northwest Flower and Garden Festival marketplace, which boasts over 350 high-quality vendors from around the world, all in one place. For the gardening enthusiast, it’s an amazing opportunity to pick up:

  • One-of-a-kind gifts
  • Your favorite plants
  • The latest garden accessories
  • Handcrafted outdoor art and furniture
  • Pottery/ceramics
  • Vintage garden wares
  • Books
  • Specialty seeds
  • Gourmet foods
  • And more!

You can even plan out your shopping spree by visiting the virtual vendor list online. You can easily browse by category or simply go through the entire list of vendors to find the ones you are interested in. Many vendors offer special festival-only promotions while others also offer discounts for online orders. You can check out the promotions page to see participating vendors. Most will have their booth number in their profile, so when you are at the show you can check them out and see if you like what they have.

Shopping at large festivals like these is also a great opportunity to network if you’re a professional in the industry. You can chat with other businesses that complement your own work, network with those in the same niche, and check out the competition. You might even find a few clients! Just make sure to bring your business card if you plan on networking. You don’t want to lose out on any potential opportunities.

Educational Seminars

For those who want to expand their knowledge, the Northwest Flower and Garden Festival offers free seminars and demonstrations over the five days of the event. Whether you’re a novice gardener or a seasoned veteran, you can learn how to create beautiful and sustainable outdoor living spaces and gardens.

All of the speakers are carefully chosen and vetted to ensure high-quality content, including cutting-edge advice from garden designers, horticulturists, and others, as well as practical demonstrations of container gardening and other techniques. The best part is that you can go to any seminar you want! Nothing costs extra money or is exclusive to industry pros. You can also spend all five days just going to seminars if you choose as there are endless options. All seminars fall into one of seven categories:

  • Plants for Northwest Gardens
  • Artistic Inspiration for Every Garden
  • Small Spaces and Indoor Gardens
  • Soil, Sustainability, Garden Health, and Low Water Use
  • Edible Gardening, Urban Farming, and Culinary Skills
  • Attracting Beneficial Pollinators and Living with Wildlife
  • Practical Insights to Grow Your Gardening Skills
Other Attractions

While the show gardens, the marketplace, and the seminars tend to be the main event for most visitors, the festival offers even more to see and experience. If you have some spare time, make sure to check out:

  • City Living Displays: practical and inspirational gardening ideas for small spaces.
  • Fleurs De Villes: beautiful displays of floral art mannequins designed by Fleurs De Villes using local Washington State florists.
  • Container Wars: gardening experts duel to create gorgeous and practical container gardens while also sharing helpful tips and tricks.
  • Blooms and Bubbles: sip Champagne and learn how to make some spectacular floral arrangements that you can proudly display in your home.

The Northwest Flower and Garden Festival usually occurs the second week of February, with the event starting on Wednesday and ending on Sunday. You can purchase two-day tickets or, for the full experience, a five-day ticket. There’s plenty to see, do, and buy so you’ll never be bored. For artisans: You can sign up to be an exhibitor and present your services or products to thousands of people.

A Must-Visit Experience

There are plenty of reasons why the Northwest Flower and Garden Festival is one of the most anticipated horticulture events of the year. It offers amazing seminars, beautiful garden displays, great shopping, and excellent networking opportunities. The festival has only grown over the years, and the future continues to look bright as more people are becoming interested in gardening. If you have the opportunity, go to this year’s festival — you’ll be glad you did.