As summer quickly approaches and the weather starts warming up, students’ lives are getting more and more busy. In addition to the excitement of school events like the spring drama and prom, there are also many events outside of school to fill the weekends. The spring season is the perfect time for local festivals. A few of these festivals are very popular events attended by lots of students and families every year. A favorite of Wilmington Friends Upper School students, Winterthur’s Point-to-Point, never fails to draw crowds. Founded by the du Pont family, the Winterthur museum, gardens, and research library are some of Delaware’s biggest attractions. To keep the gardens, some of the best in the country, maintained as well as they are, Winterthur holds Point-to-Point, a yearly steeplechase event to attract the attention of thousands of people to spend the Sunday after the Kentucky Derby watching horse races in their own area. There is something for people of all ages to do at Point-to-Point. Besides wearing big hats and dressing in Lilly Pulitzer, there are lots of reasons why Point-to-Point is so popular. Many enjoy simply spending time at tailgates with family and friends, but many others enjoy antique car shows, shops, food, and watching horse races. Drew Mangan ‘17 says, “I like Point-to-Point because it is fun to spend time with my friends walking around and going to tailgates.”

Another springtime favorite, the Flower Market at Rockford Park, is held as a fundraiser to improve the lives of children in Delaware. The money raised goes to various local charities that support children. Over the years, the Flower Market has raised more than four million dollars. Since 1952, the Flower Market has always been held Mother’s day weekend, this year falling on May 8th-10th. The Flower Market, another family friendly event, offers something for people of all ages. Lots of kids and teenagers come to the Flower Market for the popular rides like the Zipper, the Ring of Fire, the Rainbow, and many others. The Flower Market has rides of all sizes so everyone can participate in the fun. In addition to the rides, there are lots of games to play, where you can win a variety of prizes from stuffed animals to goldfish. Simone Veale ‘17 says, “My favorite festival is the Flower Market because it was the first place with rides that when I was younger I was able to go on the big ones, like the first time in 5th grade when I was first allowed to go on the zipper. I also like playing the games to win large stuffed animals and fish.”

The Flower Market also has retail and artisan tents set up, where people can buy things like jewelry and clothes for adults to enjoy. The wide selection of plants and flowers also draws the attention and wallets of many. The shops are also great for the kids there who are looking for a nice last minute Mother’s day present. In addition to the retail and artisan tents, The Flower Market also has a great variety of food vendors. Of course the Market has the classic carnival food like cotton candy, Sno-cones, and popcorn, but it also welcomes other outside vendors. This year’s food vendors included, Bricker’s Fries, Grotto’s, Cafe Riviera, and Java Puppy. Meggie Flanagan ‘17 says, “I always like the food at the Flower Market because there are always so many good choices.” While people eat, they can listen to the music nearby. This year also included performances by Matt Nathanson, American Authors, Andy Grammar, and the Ready Set. Margaret Sullivan ‘17 says, “The american authors at the flower market were way better than I thought and I was happy I got to see them.” With these springtime festivals, everyone is bound to enjoy themselves and have a great time with good food, activities, and the ability to spend time with family and friends.