Each year in May, the city of Toledo celebrates Flower Day Weekend at the local farmers’ market – an event that draws thousands of visitors from across Ohio and beyond. The weekend is dedicated to celebrating all things springtime: lush blooms, fresh produce, vibrant color and much more! Vendors from around the area come together to offer everything from potted plants and freshly cut flowers to artisanal soaps and handcrafted antiques. It truly has something for everyone!

Lori Jeffers is one of many regular vendors who attend Flower Day Weekend each year. As the owner of Sweetwater Plant Company in Maumee, she specializes in unique pots and planters filled with plants and flowers. But for her, Flower Day Weekend is more than just a chance to make sales; it’s an opportunity to connect with customers and promote local growers and makers.

“The Toledo Farmers’ Market is amazing and anybody that comes to the Flower Day, I’m wanting to convert them to shop at the market throughout the year, so it’s kind of a stepping stone to educate them on why you should come out every Saturday morning and say ‘Hey, let’s go to Flower Day.’ And realize what a gem we have in the farmers’ market itself,” Ms. Jeffers said.

In addition to the usual vendors, Flower Day Weekend also features some special additions. According to market coordinator Matt Madigan, they have a wide variety of food offerings ranging from basic fair fare to more unique items.

“We also have food trucks that come in and typically they feature things like gourmet tacos, smoothies, and other fair-style foods. We focus on creating an enjoyable environment for our customers,” Mr. Madigan said. But the weekend isn’t just about food and plants; it’s also a chance to celebrate the area’s rich agricultural heritage. “When I first started planning Flower Day Weekend, one of the things we wanted to do was highlight our local growers. We’ve seen a lot of older growers retiring, but it’s encouraging to see that the newer farmers who are coming on the scene now are mostly younger, younger growers which are very encouraging,” Mr. Madigan said.

Rounding out the offerings at Flower Day Weekend, Mr. Madigan said they also have some home improvement vendors who set up alongside the rest of the market. “They generally are on hand to help people get started on any projects they might have going in their home gardens or flower beds. We also have a few artisans who come out and offer hand-crafted items such as pottery, birdhouses, and other items like that,” Mr. Madigan said.

When it comes to the turnout for Flower Day Weekend, Mr. Madigan said it’s always been a success.

At Flower Day Weekend, visitors can also expect to find a wide variety of home improvement vendors selling things like tools, decorative items, and more. Whether shoppers are looking for something special or just browsing around, Mr. Jeffers says there is truly something for everyone at this amazing event.

“It’s a great event and it brings people from all over the region to Toledo, so there’s something for everyone here,” Ms. Jeffers said. The weekend typically sees about 10,000 to 15,000 visitors on Saturday and half that amount on Sunday and Monday. With anticipation building for this year’s Flower Day Weekend, Mr. Madigan says it looks to be a great event yet again. “I think people should come out and experience what we have going on here because it is something special,” Mr. Madigan said. “There’s a lot of great vendors and beautiful plants. It’s just an all-around great time.”

So if you’re in the area this summer, be sure to mark your calendars for Flower Day Weekend and experience the wonderful sights and smells of Toledo’s vibrant farmers’ market. You won’t be disappointed.