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COVID-19 Vaccine Information
A BEAUTIFUL WEEKEND IN DELIGHTFUL DELAND
After a year of quarantine, limited social interaction, and social distancing as a community we are finally able to enjoy some of our traditional events. One of the much anticipated and favorite events includes the ability to go out and smell the flowers! What exactly am I referring to? The first festivals in DeLand since the pandemic, the Florida Wildflower & Garden Festival and the DeLand Outdoor Art Festival of course!
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Did you know that MainStreet DeLand Association was not the original organizer of the Wildflower Festival? Naomi Nichols with MainStreet DeLand shared some of the history which made us fall more in love with these beautiful spring blooms!
Originally called the Florida Wildflower Festival, the Florida Wildflower & Garden Festival originated in 2006 and was held at the Volusia County Ag Center. It was started by David Griffis and Renee Tallevest and were inspired by the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival in Colorado. In 2008 the festival made its debut when MainStreet DeLand joined as an organizer.
This event provides a platform to promote environmentally-friendly and sustainable gardening practices featuring an array of vendors and presentations by wildflower and gardening experts. In addition to plant and gardening related vendors, the Florida Wildflower & Garden Festival has a great lineup of free presentations by gardening experts.
Whether you’re looking to build your first vegetable or herb garden to creating a butterfly garden this is the best resource in learning all of the know-how from local professionals. The weather during March is unpredictable and there’s no telling what the temperature or rainfall may be. But, for the last 56 years, there’s been one sure sign of Spring—the DeLand Outdoor Art Festival.
Founded in 1965 by Joe Elliott and Virginia Clausen on the sidewalks of downtown DeLand, the DeLand Outdoor Art Festival is the oldest family-run art festival in DeLand’s history. In 2000 Virginia’s son Tom Clausen was elected President and his wife Patty was elected Vise President. They remain coordinators of the festival along with Martie Cox and Jeannie Harvey.
The DeLand Outdoor Art Festival is a venue for fine artists, traditional crafters, and so much more. Fine artists from throughout the Southeast will be competing for thousands of dollars in cash prizes and awards. There is live entertainment throughout the day, from country to blues and a variety of other musical performances. And we can’t forget about the delicious food. Food vendors offering Greek salads to popcorn, Wisconsin Cheese Curds, BarB-Q, Kettle Korn to Home Made Ice Cream, and much, much more to tempt and satisfy your pallet.
