Seattle Garden Festival Opens This Week
The Northwest Flower & Garden Festival runs February 18-22, 2026, at the Seattle Convention Center, featuring show gardens, plant markets, workshops, and activities for all ages. The event provides inspiration at the transition from winter to spring for garden enthusiasts.
- The 2026 festival's theme is "Spring Parade," which will be reflected in the more than 20 elaborate show gardens constructed in under 72 hours on the convention center floor. - Established in 1989, the event was the first major public show held at the Washington State Convention Center and has since become the second-largest garden show in the United States. - The festival typically draws between 55,000 and 60,000 attendees; the 2023 event saw the highest turnout in eight years with nearly 60,000 visitors. - In addition to the gardens, the event includes over 115 free seminars and demonstrations on topics ranging from resilient gardening to floral design. - A key feature is the Garden Marketplace, one of the largest in the U.S., with more than 400 vendors selling plants, tools, and artisanal decor. - Interactive events include the "Container Showdown," a timed container-building competition, and "Blooms & Bubbles," a workshop where attendees can create floral arrangements while sipping champagne. - For those with limited space, the "City Living" section features 10 balcony gardens designed to provide inspiration for apartments and condos.
