Alpena Gathers Downtown for Flower Festival

Downtown Alpena’s first ever Flower Festival was a success for several reasons. People gathered downtown to appreciate all the beautiful displays from local florists and check out businesses they may have never been to before.

Saturday was the event’s second day, and the great weather brought people outside and all over downtown.

“We’re in a beautiful spot with some beautiful flowers to sell, and the weather is just perfect for a festival like this today, it’s a wonderful first year,” said Tara Wilson, Owner of Lasting Expressions in Alpena.

There were flower vendors like Lasting Expressions, and booths set up along the sidewalks. Families held flowers and took pictures. It was a downtown event that brought people together.

“People are blown away by everything, and it seems to be going off with a hit, so things seem to be going awesome with the Flower Fest,” said Griffin James, owner of Cedar & Threads.

Lasting Expressions often delivers flowers to people’s homes, but with the Flower Festival, they have more of an opportunity to interact with customers face to face.

“It’s really fun to be able to see people’s faces for one, see them and interact with them, we deliver it, but we don’t often get to see everybody, so it’s fun to get out in the community and meet everybody we’re sending flowers to,” said Wilson.

The Flower Festival had presenting sponsors, business sponsors, and friends of the festival marked on a map of downtown, also featuring work of local florists, which is important to the community.

“I’ve been watching them come and pick each other’s brains and talk to one another, the owners of these different entities, and it’s just humbling to see them all get together and work together for the greater good of an event downtown here in Alpena,” said James.

The events of Saturday kicked off at 9:30 am and ended at 8 pm.