Bloom in the Park is scheduled for the Bank Holiday weekend of June 2-6. The festivities always surround flowers and gardening and are designed to inspire others to take part. It’s normally a big event, attracting around 100,000 people per year, but this is their 10th year at Phoenix Park in Dublin and it’s expected to be huge. Here’s a look at the top four reasons to visit this year's Bloom in the Park.
1. The Show Gardens
The biggest draw to the festival are the show gardens. This year, Bloom in the Park has more than 20 different ones on display, designed to showcase trends and encourage people to kick their own home gardens up a notch. The majority are from top Irish garden designers, but some are coming from other parts of the world. An American team is actually shipping an entire garden from Chicago for the event. That’s how serious Bloom in the Park is for designers. Overall, the displays range from “postcard” size to sculpture gardens, and even Victorian walled kitchen gardens.
2. Family Activities
Kids get free admittance and the event will have a Children’s Zone. Wee ones will get to experience a bit of farm life, using child-scale equipment like diggers and scoopers. There will also be dedicated entertainment for the kids in the Budding Bloomer area, including Irish dancers, magician Billy Bubbles, and an interactive show from Scientist Sue that covers everything from slime to vegetable-powered cars. The shows will rotate through the day, so it’s easy to catch them all during your time at the festival, but there are plenty of other kid-friendly exhibits as well.
3. Food Village
One of the biggest draws to the event is always the Food Village. The idea is to give visitors the opportunity to sample lots of delicious Irish foods and to provide information on the fruit and vegetable industry. Sections include the fan favourite Bloom Inn, which features Irish whiskies and craft beers, as well as the Food Market, Bloom Farmyard, Horticulture Promo, and Love Irish Food sections, plus a new addition- the Fresh Food Market, which will have fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats, as well as tips for preparation at home.
4. Shopping
Visitors will have the opportunity to purchase some of the plants they’ve seen in the gardens if they stop by the Floral Marquee or Plant Village. There is also a section dedicated to botanical art, as well as another area for various sundries and items for home improvement.
This is just a sampling of what’s available at Bloom in the Park this year. There is so much to see and do, you could easily enjoy an entire day there and still not see every exhibit. However, you don’t have to wait for Bloom in the Park to see gorgeous flowers. The local florists at Bloom Magic craft amazing arrangements, using the freshest, most beautiful flowers around. To see what’s available, check our catalogue of beautiful flowers online.