Everett, June 3: Sorticulture, Everett’s Garden Arts Festival, opens Friday June 5, billed as the largest garden arts festival in the state with an expected weekend crowd of 18,000-20,000 in attendance, according to event organizer, Tyler Chisholm, the city of Everett Economic Development and Marketing Manager.
Sorticulture exists around the intersection of outdoor living, horticulture and art with booths and events opening at 10 a.m. Friday. Chisholm says the three-day event includes “carefully curated” artists, plants, flowers and exhibitors in Everett’s “beautiful, historic and hip downtown”. Admission is free and open to the public giving attendees a chance to meet the artists and find “one of a kind” pieces for sale.
The festival takes place along Colby Avenue from Everett Avenue to the north, and Pacific Avenue from the south. This year’s Sorticulture also expands east and west along California Street by Funko and Hewitt Avenue towards Port Gardner Bay. Restaurants will be open, selling food and drink with menus and beverages to meet virtually every appetite.
Here’s how to enjoy the summer vibes and create some inspiration for your outdoor spaces.
Sorticulture is open:
- Friday, June 5, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Saturday, June 6, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Sunday, June 7, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
What you’ll find at Sorticulture:
- Over 140 garden artists and nurseries with vendors from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and British Columbia!
- Ciscoe Morris, the Pacific Northwest’s gardening superhero and broadcast personality, speaks on Sunday, June 7 at 1 p.m. in the Historic Everett Theatre / New Everett Theater (2911 Colby). *Please note that only service dogs are allowed within the theater.
- Gardening classes – (view locations and booth numbers)
- Free collectible event poster by a local artist, Jessica Morse of Pacific Bloom Studio
- *New* – a free shopping bag at partner booths including Peoples Bank, Downtown Everett Association, KRKO/KXA, package pick up booths and Visit Everett. (editor’s note: KRKO and KXA are co-owned by www.EverettPost.com)
- Food trucks, snacks and beverages throughout the Sorticulture layout, and a bevy of restaurants and bars along the festival layout.
- Wine garden hosted by Wick-Ed Wine & Social Club (2707 Colby Ave.) with live music
- Youth activities by Imagine Children’s Museum, Everett Parks, Evertt Public Library and Funko.
- Art classes at the Schack for ALL AGES
- Plant clinic by WSU Snohomish County Master Gardeners and natural yard care booths
- Package hold and pick-up and lawn games hosted by Everett Boys & Girls Club by Funko and at the south end near Pacific Ave. on Colby.
- “Stories for Gardeners Young and Old” hosted by Everett Public Library at 10:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday at Wetmore Plaza (2720 Wetmore between Village Theatre and Cope-Gilette).
- Free outdoor yoga classes on Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m. hosted by Yoga Shala Everett at Wetmore Plaza. Bring yourself, grippy shoes (or your yoga mat!), and enjoy.
- FREE event shuttle daily during the festival from Everett Station. Special thanks for the hardworking folks at Everett Transit.
You don’t have to have an expansive backyard to appreciate Sorticulture, Chisholm says, encouraging apartment and condo residents to attend and explore because there’s an array of house plants and flowers for people to buy with competitive prices to compliment your own living space, no matter the size.
On Thursday, June 4, Chisholm says Colby and Hewitt Avenues will be blocked to traffic in the aforementioned blocks to set-up booths for the weekend’s Sorticulture festivities. Plan ahead for those traffic revisions if you navigate those downtown Everett streets on Thursday.
Parking:
There are several parking lots surrounding the Sorticulture Festival including Everpark Garage (2815 Hoyt Ave.), Port Gardner Parking (1712 California St.), Snohomish County Parking Garage on Friday (3010 Oakes Ave.), and free 90-minute street parking is available everywhere.
Free Shuttle:
Patrons may also park for free at Everett Station (3201 Smith Ave.) and ride the fare-free Everett Transit shuttle to two spots by the festival layout. Click here to learn more about the shuttle and view stops.
Questions about Sorticulture:
Are dogs allowed? YES! Dogs are allowed OUTSIDE anywhere in the festival layout as long as they are on a leash. If you plan to attend a gardening class INSIDE, including Ciscoe’s talk at the Everett Historic Theater, only service dogs are allowed.
Is there ADA parking? Yes, several designated spots on Wetmore near Village Theatre for those with limited mobility or wheelchair using patrons and their caregivers.
Do I need a ticket to see Ciscoe? No, it’s first come, first served at the 800+ seat Historic Everett Theatre. Arrive early for a good seat.
Is there a package hold and pickup when buying art or yard decor? Yes, Everett Boys & Girls Club of Snohomish County will temporarily store your purchases while you continue to explore Sorticulture. Find them by Funko or on Colby near Pacific Ave. If you want to keep your items with you, bring your own cart.
What’s the best address to navigate to Sorticulture? Because the layout covers several blocks, you may want to pick where you want to park and navigate to that spot. Taking the fare free shuttle, a rideshare service, bike, is strongly encouraged.
The City of Everett organizes and administers Sorticulture. Sorticulture is in part supported by Snohomish County Lodging Tax grants.