Spring has never looked this good
Spring has never looked this good
Nobody appreciates spring quite like someone who just survived winter in Western and Central New York. And this year, spring is giving us plenty of reasons to get outside and celebrate. Here are some of the best flower shows and festivals across the region — find one near you or turn one into a spring road trip.
April 25-26: Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival
There's no need to travel to D.C. to see cherry blossoms this spring — head to the Queen City! From April 25–26, Buffalo's Japanese Garden in Delaware Park comes alive with the annual Cherry Blossom Festival, featuring cultural displays, food vendors, and live entertainment beneath a canopy of blooms. The trees themselves carry a beautiful backstory: they were a gift from Buffalo's Japanese sister city, Kanazawa.
April 25-26: Sonnenberg Gardens' Orchid Show
Head to Sonnenberg Gardens in Canandaigua on April 25–26 for a weekend devoted to one of nature's most captivating blooms. The Genesee Region Orchid Society will be on hand to share their expertise while you stroll through the greenhouse, arboretum, and gift shop. As a bonus, works by the Plein Air artists of The Off-Color Painters will be on display in the Carriage House. It's a full afternoon of beauty in one stop.
May 2: Cornell Botanic Gardens' Spring into the Gardens
On May 2, join Cornell Botanic Gardens in Ithaca for Spring into the Gardens. Student-led activities fill the afternoon with mini garden tours, scavenger hunts, and arts and crafts — plus spring flowering plants and houseplants available for purchase. It's a lovely way to connect with nature and shake off the last of winter.
May 8-17: Rochester Lilac Festival
The numbers alone are staggering: over 1,200 bushes, more than 500 varieties, and 128 years of tradition. The Rochester Lilac Festival returns to Highland Park May 8–17, and it's still one of the largest free festivals of its kind in the country. The festival brings live music, arts and craft vendors, guided walking tours, a kids' zone, the Lilac Local Farmers Market, a parade, and a 5K/10K run. If you've never made the trip, this might be the year.
May 10: Sycamore Hill Gardens' Mother's Day Garden Tour
Mother's Day Brunch is fine. Forty acres of gardens is better. On May 10, Sycamore Hill Gardens in Marcellus opens its gates for a self-guided tour through 40+ acres of vibrant gardens — with surprises tucked around every turn. Even better, every ticket benefits Baltimore Woods Nature Center and its mission of connecting communities with nature across Central New York.
May 16-May 31: Linwood Gardens' Tree Peony Festival of Flowers
Some gardens are open year-round. Linwood Gardens in Linwood is not — which makes the 30th Annual Tree Peony Festival of Flowers (May 16–31) feel like a genuine occasion. This private residence opens its gates for just a few weeks each year to showcase a remarkable collection of Japanese and American tree peonies, first established between the 1930s and 1980s and now home to over 600 individual plants across roughly 150 cultivars. This one is worth the drive.
Can't make every festival? Bring the blooms to you. AAA Members save 30% on AAA-exclusive collections and 25% sitewide at 1-800-Flowers.com with code AAA. Consider it spring, delivered.