The 18th Annual Festival of Flowers was set to return to the Providence Hospital campus in Mobile in late March 2011, promising what organizers called the largest outdoor flower show in the Southeast.
A Gulf Coast Tradition
Over the course of 16 previous years, the Festival of Flowers had drawn an estimated 150,000 visitors to its grand floral displays and life-sized garden installations. Acknowledged as the premier flower and garden event on the greater Gulf Coast, the festival took place each spring during what many consider Mobile’s most beautiful month, when trees leaf out and flowering plants reach their peak.
Spread across more than 300,000 square feet of exhibits arranged under tents and open sky on the Providence Hospital campus at 6801 Airport Boulevard, the multi-day event offered a feast for the senses designed to enchant, entertain, and educate attendees of all ages.
Exhibits and Attractions
The 2011 edition featured an extensive lineup of attractions, including floral and horticultural exhibits, designer tablescapes, a World of Flowers showcase, professionally landscaped gardens, and Blooming Cuisine culinary demonstrations. A photography contest invited shutterbugs to capture the beauty on display, while featured artist Justin Gaffrey brought his distinctive work to the festival grounds.
The Mobile Museum of Art hosted a dedicated children’s venue, making the event a family-friendly outing. All proceeds from the Festival of Flowers benefited the Providence Hospital Foundation.
Admission and Details
The festival ran Thursday through Sunday, with hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Day passes were priced at $10, with multi-day passes also available. Children age 12 and under were admitted free. On-site parking was available for $2.