EVERETT — It’s three days of garden bliss without getting your feet muddy.
Sorticulture, an outdoor garden arts festival, is Friday through Sunday in downtown Everett.
“Sorticulture is one of the most popular events that the city puts on,” city spokesperson Julio Cortes said. “It brings folks from all over the region.”
Admission is free, but better bring some green stuff. About 150 vendors will tempt you with yard decor, wind chimes, bird baths, hammocks, tools, pottery and plants. Fuel up on food and drinks. Bring the kids.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
It takes place on Colby Avenue, between Everett and Pacific avenues.
For years, Sorticulture was at Legion Park, bringing droves of people to the residential area and snaking the curbs with cars. In 2021, it moved to downtown Everett to meet the state’s COVID guidelines for outdoor events. The plan was to move it back to the park, but downtown was a hit all around.
Flowers from Marysville’s Sunnyside Nursery at the Sorticulture Garden Arts Festival Thursday on Colby Avenue in downtown Everett. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
“Downtown is walkable and accessible,” Cortes said. “Business owners will be open and participatory. It’s a great economic stimulus for the downtown area. It’s a way to introduce people to Everett and make them fall in love with the city.”
Weather won’t dampen the tenacity of the green-thumbers.
“Last year we got a little bit of rain and we still had a lot of folks come out and had some record sales for some of the vendors. This year we’ll have a little bit of rain as well,” Cortes said.
Gardening expert Ciscoe Morris takes the stage at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Sunnyside Nursery Garden Stage at Colby and Hewitt avenues. Hear flutes, jazz, country and cool old dudes playing folk rock. The Everett Rowing Beer & Wine Garden is next to the stage so you can sip and enjoy the shows.
Suzanne Quirk and the rest of the crew from Lake Forest Park’s Vintage Glass Gardens work under their canopy during steady rain as vendors prepare for the Sorticulture Garden Arts Festival Thursday in downtown Everett. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Downtown parking is free on the street and in the city garage.
“We have scooters that they can scooter in with,” Cortes said.
Sharing Wheels Community Bike Shop will offer free valet bike parking. If you buy a Japanese maple or ginormous metal sunflower at the festival, there’s a package holding area so you can come back later to haul it home.
Andrea Brown: 425-339-3443; abrown@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @reporterbrown.
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