FlowerMart 2014 Welcomes Spring

The drudgery of last-week-of-classes and the constant downpour we’ve had this last week has washed away any memories of Spring Fair. If you’re burned out  and need a reminder that it really, truly, is spring, then consider a trip down to Mt. Vernon for Baltimore’s annual rite of spring, FlowerMart 2014! FlowerMart 2014 will take place in the parks of Mr. Vernon surrounding the Washington Monument on Friday, May 2 and Saturday, May 3, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. both days. There is no admission charge. Part of North Charles St. will be blocked off for the festival, and vendors, booths and two stages will be installed on the street surrounding the European style parks that border the Peabody Institute. This is by far my favorite “spring fair” of the year (sorry Spring Fair) – I find that there’s a greater variety of things to see, as well my favorite part – the vendors with their overwhelming abundance of fresh, beautiful flowers lining North Charles St.

Entertainment-wise, the schedule for the weekend is packed with performances ranging from a barbershop quartet to flamenco dancers to a maypole dance. Performances also run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and last anywhere from half an hour to an hour. One of the performances, HarpAdventures, features the students from the Peabody’s harp pedagogy program. The students are between the ages of 4-12, and there’s nothing more adorable than thirty children playing brightly colored miniature harps on stage. The HarpAdventures performance will happen at 11 a.m. on Saturday at the Mrs. Clarisse Mechanic Stage. If adorable children are not your cup of tea, the Meridian Dance Company will present a spicy belly dancers number at the William Donald Schaefer Stage at 11 a.m.

And now, of course, to the food! FlowerMart will feature both ‘food court’ style food and more gourmet selections. While you’re strolling down the street, be sure to try the gyros, fresh fruit smoothies, crab cakes, kosher hot dogs, and handmade ice cream. The classic FlowerMart treat is the lemon peppermint stick – a delicious frozen lemonade sorbet inside half a lemon peel with a peppermint straw stuck inside. Gourmet food vendors featured include Café Latte, The Ice Cream Lady, Papa’s Kettle Korn, Pecan Yummies (my personal favorite) and The Original Strudel Factory. If you are over the ripe age of 21, there is a vast selection of fruity alternative beverages for your responsible enjoyment.

As for vendors, there’s a plethora of vendors – specialty garden vendors, school vendors, wellness vendors, non-profit vendors, community & government vendors, commercial vendors, artist vendors, arts & crafts, etc. The art and commercial vendors are usually reasonably priced and have fun knick-knacks and quirky items, both useful and simply decorative. Mt. Vernon is a more culturally diverse community, and FlowerMart really gives community members a chance to interact and chat with different artists and vendors.

FlowerMart is this weekend, so I suggest you mosey on down south on the JHMI Shuttle (which runs on the hour on Saturdays) and enjoy the promised sun and spring ambience before buckling down for finals!