The National Cathedral Flower Mart is back with festival foods, children’s rides, gift tents, and, of course, the star of the show: FLOWERS!
Since 1939, All Hallows’ Guild has been hosting this glorious botanical event, the National Cathedral Flower Mart, on the 59 acres of gardens and grounds around the Washington National Cathedral. In its early days, the Flower Mart consisted of a smattering of booths with green and white striped awnings lining the cathedral's "Pilgrim Steps." Mrs. Roosevelt was the first First Lady to attend Flower Mart, and since then, eight First Ladies have opened or attended it. They are: Eleanor Roosevelt, Edith Wilson, Bess Truman, Mamie Eisenhower, Pat Nixon, Lady Bird Johnson, Jackie Kennedy, and Barbara Bush.
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Courtesy allhallowsguild.org[/caption]
When and Where
The National Cathedral Flower Mart will be held this year on
Friday, May 4, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and
Saturday, May 5, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The address of the National Cathedral is 3101 Wisconsin Avenue, NW. Maps will be available at the Flower Mart and online
here, to help guide you through this expansive festival.
Kid-Friendly Activities
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Courtesy allhallowsguild.org[/caption]
Bring the whole family, because the National Cathedral Flower Mart has more than enough to entertain the kids!
- Antique Carousel is set up for Flower Mart each year and is a favorite of young and old. The century-old carousel is on the National Register of Historic Places and was restored over a 20-year period. The carousel will be located on the southeast side of the Cathedral -- near the children's rides and games.
- Master Puppeteers present "The Mad Hatters Tea Party!" Find it indoors, located in the Bethlehem Chapel.
- Children's Games and Rides are ticketed and include a cake walk, a huge slide, games, and mechanical rides (Twister, the Tubs of Fun, the Dixie Jr. Whirly Bird, and the Dixie Jr. Ferris Wheel), a moon bounce, and two climbing walls.
- Terry Bender, Organ Grinder, and Wastel the monkey with his talking parrot will be on hand to play their tunes both days. They'll be located along South Road.
Booths and Vendors
- Gift Vendors | More than 80 boutique booths will encircle the Cathedral, as in festivals from medieval days, and will bring an enormous array of eclectic gifts.
- White Elephant Booth | A wide selection of collectibles, jewelry, china, crystal, prints, baskets, and many other items for the home (and Mother's Day) will be sold at a bargain! This year the White Elephant sale will be moving to a larger tent on the Cathedral's North Lawn. Look for it near the NCS-STA Used Book Sale tent.
- NCS-STA Used Book Tent | Over 10,000 books will be available -- most priced between $.50 and $4! Hardback and paperback fiction, architecture, mysteries, children's books for all ages, classics, poetry, plays, and non-fiction books in just about every topic you can think of!
- Premier Plants | At the National Cathedral Flower Mart, you'll find an elaborate variety of shade, partial shade, and sun-worshiping perennials, annuals, herbs, and award-winning plants at the Premier Plant Booth. Have questions about what plants work best for your yard? Ask the Montgomery County Master Gardeners, who will be milling around just to help you!
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Food
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Courtesy allhallowsguild.org[/caption]
The National Cathedral Flower Mart promises to send you away with a full stomach! There will be everything from traditional festival foods, barbecue, pizza, smoothies, Sunshine Catering grilled delicacies, ice cream, funnel cakes, hot dogs, hamburgers, and fries. The Episcopal Church Women will have their homemade baked goods: cookies, brownies, muffins, cakes, shortbread, breads, rolls and muffins. The Swiss Bakery will also be selling their traditional lobster rolls!
Guided Tours and Self-Guided Tours
- Tower Climb Tour -- $20 (or $30 if combined with the Gargoyle Walk) | A guided tour climbing over 300 steps! The tour begins at the crypt level and ends in the Central Tower -- over 200 feet high! This includes a demonstration of music and bell ringing in the Tower provided by the Washington Ringing Society and Ed Nassor, the Cathedral Carillonier. (Participants must be a minimum height of 48 inches).
- Gargoyle Walk -- $20 (or $30 if combined with the Tower Climb Tour) | This self-guided tour (with docents posted along the way to offer information) is a walk along the gutter walkway between the two central towers, getting cozy with the grotesques and gargoyles adorning this portion of the Cathedral. There is very little stair climbing, but participants should be prepared to maneuver through some low and narrow passages.
- Self-guided Tours are available, free of charge, of the medieval Bishop’s Garden and the gorgeous Olmsted Woods and Amphitheater. Pick up your brochure guide at the All Hallows Guild Booth.
- International Floral Displays | Inside the Cathedral, the beautiful “Flowers Around the World” floral displays are located in the Nave. Floral arrangements are created by different Washington Embassies representing their countries through flowers. Free of charge!
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Don't miss this year's National Cathedral Flower Mart, a Washington tradition and a perfect way to welcome Mother's Day!
Are you ready to get your bloom on? Tell us about it in the comments!
