Take Care of Mom at Flower & Jazz

Mother’s Day is just a few days away. Pining for a present? Fretting about the flowers? Don’t fuss – come to the annual Flower and Jazz Festival on Saturday! For the past 23 years, downtown Westminster has celebrated spring and mothers alike with this daylong street festival. The event features live music and over 150
vendors and runs from 10am to 4pm. Main Street, from Longwell Avenue (to the
east) and John Street (to the west) becomes a pedestrian paradise.

Last year, over 6,000 people enjoyed the festival on a sunny day, and this year
promises to be just as amazing.  Many downtown businesses, including Clementine’s, Artworks & Apparel Boutique, Totallee Funkee Thrift Shop, Pomeroy Jewelers and Coffey Music are participating to showcase their incredible merchandise in booths on the street.  Other locally-owned shops like Westminster
Furniture, Spare Room, Gizmo’s Art, Mercer Carpet One, Flower Box, Pottery Loft
and Main Arterie will feature unique, perfect items for your favorite mom.

And don’t even think about coming to the festival on a full stomach!  Arrive hungry, because street vendors will tempt you with a wide array of delectable items, from crab cakes and smoothies to gourmet popcorn and funnel cakes.  In
addition, local restaurateurs such as Johansson’s, Furnace Hills and Giulianova will be selling irresistible bites on the street.

In addition, the Carroll County Arts Council is featuring a series of Plein Air artists, who will be on the street painting the landscapes and people throughout the festival.

And if you're looking for something to do with the kids, this is a great event!
There are lots of kid-friendly booths, and Safe Day for Kids will be providing fun kids’ activities on the Gehr Lot.

Flowers are Blooming

Plants and flowers are a huge draw at this fun festival.  Four nurseries will be on hand to showcase their very best plants, including White House Nursery, God Scent Herbs, S&L Bulbs and Such and Wakefield Valley Nursery.  In addition, Boy Scout troop #2007 will be purveying flora and fauna. The downtown Farmers’ Market will also be selling its wares at a tent on West Main Street. And thanks to the City of Westminster, every mother or grandmother in attendance will receive a free plant just for visiting the event.

Music is Jazzin’

How can it be the Flower & Jazz festival without the music?  There are two live stages on which to enjoy terrific music.  The Herb Sell Ensemble kicks off
at 10am on the Library Stage, followed by the Dan Vogel Trio at noon and the Eric Byrd Trio at 2pm. On the West Main stage at American Appraisal, visitors will enjoy a variety of jazz and classic music played by local musicians from local schools and area groups. All music is sponsored by Coffey Music.

Annual Walk/Run

And that’s not all.  Kick off your special day with a fun run/walk at Wakefield Valley Trail, just off Route 31 by Avondale Run Road. The event features a 1 mile fun run/walk and a 5K, with registration beginning at 9am. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Carroll County Youth Service Bureau and the Westminster Family Fitness Center.

Come Play, Eat and Shop

Whether you come to walk, shop, or celebrate, remember that downtown Westminster is the place to be on May 11th! Happy Mothers Day!  We’ll see you
around downtown!