Floral Fête returns to Haven Gallery October 16 with ‘Twilight Garden’ theme
Curated by Jen Todd, owner of Immortal Blossoms, the Floral Fête event will run October 16 through October 18 from 1:30 to 6pm at Haven Gallery in Northport Village.
Floral designers from across Long Island will bring their creativity to Haven Gallery in Northport Village next week for the second Floral Fête of the year, a free floral design exhibition and competition built around the theme “Twilight Garden.”
Curated by Jen Todd, owner of Immortal Blossoms, the three-day event will run October 16 through October 18 from 1:30 to 6pm, with the public invited to view the arrangements and vote for their favorites.
Todd chose the twilight theme to give designers room to interpret it in their own ways, from romantic and beautiful to dark, mysterious and a little wild, she told the Journal.
“I want to give floral designers a place to just create – without a client, a wedding palette, an AI rendering or a Pinterest photo telling them what something is supposed to look like,” Todd said. “Floristry truly is an art form, and I want people to walk through the gallery and see just how much creativity, skill and imagination can exist within flowers.”
Unlike arrangements created to meet a client’s specific requests, the Floral Fête designs give participants the freedom to experiment and make something entirely their own. While this edition introduces formal judging for the first time, Todd hopes the competition remains a celebration of the designers and their work rather than a source of pressure.
A panel of local judges will award first, second and third place based on floral design criteria. J. Merullo Imports, a floral wholesaler, is sponsoring gift card prizes for the winners, while Julie Vos Jewelry is donating a piece of floral-themed jewelry for each winner.
The public will also have a chance to choose a favorite designer through a new People’s Choice Award benefiting the Northport Native Garden Initiative (NNGI), a local non-profit that promotes native plants and gardens while providing education on their environmental benefits.
Voting opens October 16 at 1:30pm and closes October 18 at 10pm. Votes cost $5 each, with no limit on the number of votes a person can cast. Voting is optional, and viewing the exhibition is free. Visitors can vote in person or through social media, where Todd will post the designs when voting opens.
The cause has personal meaning for Todd, who grew up in Florida and said experiencing the changing seasons has given her a greater appreciation for seasonal and native planting.
“I loved the idea of giving all of the designers this inspiration, and seeing completely different interpretations of it,” she said of the Twilight Garden theme. “I’m so proud of the lineup of designers we have this time around. Every single one of them brings something different to the table, and they really are such creative souls.”
The event will kick off with a Designer Reception on Friday, October 16, from 5 to 7pm. The Golden Pour LI and Twisted Cow Distillery will serve floral-inspired cocktail tastings, while The Sweet Spot by Stacey will provide treats. The judged awards will also be announced that evening.
Floral Fête will be open to the public for viewing and People’s Choice voting from October 16 to 18 from 1:30pm to 6pm at Haven Gallery, 50 Main Street in Northport Village. For more information and to participate in People’s Choice voting, visit Floral Fête’s voting page.
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