Local Business Sponsors Talk Flower Festival

The first ever Flower Festival took place this weekend, an event to kick off the summer season in downtown Alpena.

A few different businesses sponsored the event, and were happy to do so because of the relationship the downtown community has with its local businesses.

“Anything that brings tourism into town is the direction we need to be going as an entire town, so we’re always going to participate in anything that involves the downtown,” said Eric Peterson, owner of The Fresh Palate. “We’re just advocates of making sure people come around.”

The event featured the work of several local florists, and for the businesses in Alpena, and featuring local work was a big reason as to why they wanted to help sponsor the event.

“That’s all about promoting the downtown area, but also the community as a whole, and so we all try to support other local business,” said Wayne Calkins, Owner of Bolenz Jewelry. “That’s what it’s all about, so this is supporting all the local businesses in the floral industry, as well as having people come down and see what’s available downtown.”

Events like these are always an opportunity to bring new businesses to the downtown, and new businesses can bring new ideas for events to the downtown as well.

“It helps to bring other businesses in, because once you see that there is a need for a certain kind of business, there is available spaces downtown, new businesses have the idea like, ‘hey, we can make this work,’ so I just think it’s a great idea,” said Peterson.

The local business sponsors were all systems go on Friday and Saturday, and they were excited to be open during the festival.

“We like to see a lot of people out on the streets walking around, so that will be great to have the excitement of people you don’t normally see downtown all the time,” said Calkins.

The festival took place all day Friday and Saturday.