Held in historic downtown Leesburg, the annual Flower and Garden Show is held in the third week of April to celebrate the upcoming of spring. The town (or vendors) showcase all things gardening by transforming the historic district into a beautiful garden, with flowers and plants everywhere, and flavorsome food and various activities. April 20 and 21 marks Leesburgs’ thirty-third year hosting this grand festival. No matter the weather, the celebration continues, always free and open to the public.
This festival is widely loved throughout northern Virginia. “This event is an awesome community building opportunity for all the small businesses in Leesburg,” said Heather Donahue, owner of Catty Corner Cafe. “In addition, it’s very fun for the local residents and people that come from out of town to partake in this massive showcase of vendors. It’s a great way to support small, local businesses.”
Catty Corner Cafe is a unique downtown business featuring a snug cat lounge, where cat lovers can come in and hang-out with cats, and have the opportunity to adopt these cats. Animal cafes have spiked in popularity since the early 2010’s, though many of these unusual cafes are located in South Korea. It is Catty Corner Cafes’ second year attending the Flower and Garden Show. “This is such an amazing event for us to be a part of,” Donahue said. “We are located in downtown Leesburg, so this show gives us an opportunity to reach new customers that did not know we existed or even know what a cat cafe actually is. We can talk to so many people about our rescue operation and how we adopt out rescue cats which most people find fascinating and supportive.” Beyond all the fun, the Flower and Garden show holds many memories for Leesburg and its citizens. It’s not all about the flowers and beautiful displays, people make new memories, hear new stories, make new friends and enjoy hearing local businesses’ past stories about the show, the vibes in the festival are like no other, the infectious laughs and smiles from all the people around is what gives the show such good energy and warm feeling. The Flower and Garden show is not just a show; it’s a celebration that spreads much love all throughout the community.
The festival will cover most of downtown Leesburg, one can expect to see a vast majority of vendors, food trucks, performers, and many activities for children. There are plenty of activities and businesses that suit people’s preferences. Parking is limited and runs out quickly, parking spots can be found at 10 Loudoun St. SW, 210 Church Street NE, 1 Harrison St. SE, additional parking near Ida Lee park and a free shuttle to downtown during the festival’s hours are available.
