EVENTS

Wilmington Flower Market 2024: When is it, what to expect

Amethyst Martinez
Delaware News Journal

Looking for something to do on Mother's Day weekend? Flowers, performers, food and more will be coming to the annual Wilmington Flower Market.

The market will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 9, and Friday, May 10, and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 11. During the three days, the market plans to bring plenty of entertainment to Rockford Park in Wilmington.

Visitors look over the plants for sale at the opening day of the Wilmington Flower Market at Rockford Park.

The event was founded in 1921 by Mary Chichester du Pont and now stands as one of the biggest annual fundraisers in Wilmington. The Wilmington Flower Market aims to raise money for Delaware charities that support youth, with past beneficiaries like the Exceptional Care for Children, Family Counseling Center of St. Paul's and the Down Syndrome Association of Delaware.

Performers include recently eliminated "The Voice" contestant Olivia Rubini on Friday, May 10; a reptile show on Thursday, May 9; and over 20 others. The entire lineup can be found on the Wilmington Flower Market's Facebook page.

The Rockford Tower serves as stately backdrop on the first day of the Wilmington Flower Market in Rockford Park, Thursday, May 5, 2022.

Food will be available at the flower market. Eats from Chick-Fil-A, El Toro Cantina, Uncle John's BBQ Stand and others will be offered. Desserts also will be served: water ice from Fusco's, mini donuts and coffee from DonutNV, ice cream from Hy-Point Dairy and more. Alongside food, a beer garden will be at this year's event.

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Retail shops and small businesses will be set up, with jewelry, handmade birdhouses, face painting and pottery and more. Rides also will be available.

No worries, plenty of flowers will be there too, with a garden gallery.

The free event is rain or shine, and guests are allowed to use umbrellas if needed. Dogs are allowed as long as they are on leashes and are picked up after.

Parking for the market is $10 per day cash only, with a multiday option available. At tents, payment methods allowed include cash, credit or debit cards, and vendors may have other options.

Although vendor spots are full, volunteers are still needed. Information can be found at wilmingtonflowermarket.org/volunteer-1.