Fall Gardening Festival Celebrates 25 years!

The Community Gardening Festival grew from an idea two Virginia Beach Master Gardeners had in 2000 for creating an educational event for the general public that was focused on gardening. One name change and 25 years later, the Fall Gardening Festival is going strong. The 30-person festival planning team meets monthly to make sure every detail is coordinated for the event which happens the first weekend in October. 74 volunteers oversaw all the Festival activities this year including the Ask a Master Gardener table where you can get you gardening questions answered, a bake sale, 24 Hampton Roads horticulture group and society displays to visit, the recycled garden treasures sale, Water and Tree Steward educational displays, demonstrations, presentations, children’s activities and the All Hallow's Eve Flower Show presented by the Tidewater District Virginia Federation of Garden Clubs. 

Many people come for the wide variety of plants for sale, including native and house plants. Over 1,000 plants found new homes in the community this year! What stole the day, though, was the afternoon cockroach races. Several races were run while children screamed and jumped to cheer on their favorite roach (giant Madagascar hissing roaches), and parents snapped oodles of pictures. Over 1,200 people attended. We hope to see you at the 26th annual Fall Gardening Festival next year.