Get your Sorticulture on: Garden festival returns to downtown Everett

The Sorticulture 2023 poster designed by watercolor artist Sarah Simon. (Photo provided by Sorticulture)

It's a chance to shop, dance, get gardening tips, throw an axe and look through a big kaleidoscope. Admission is free.

EVERETT — Be on the lookout for flying axes, kaleidoscopes and creeping phlox in downtown Everett this weekend.

Sorticulture, a three-day garden festival, is Friday through Sunday. Admission is free to the festival and events.

For years, the city's mega garden party was at Legion Park, where hundreds of cars clogged the streets in the quiet north Everett neighborhood. In 2021, to meet the state's COVID guidelines for outdoor events, Sorticulture moved to downtown Everett. The new location was a hit with vendors and festival goers.

Downtown Everett embraces the traffic.

"With Sorticulture bringing in 18,000 people over the weekend, we estimate that it has a spending impact of about $900,000 in Everett with that size of a crowd," said Tyler Chism, manager of the city's events and arts programs.

People browse through the different glass wind chimes during Sorticulture at Legion Memorial Park on Friday, June 7, 2019 in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

"It also highlights and promotes the downtown to help change some perceptions that Everett is gritty and dirty and scary," he added. "People coming from all around the region to check out Sorticulture are introduced to Everett and our hip waterfront."

This year's Sorticulture poster has botanical art with vibrant blossoms and intricate leaf patterns designed by Seattle watercolor artist and author Sarah Simon, known as The Mint Gardener. Simon will sign posters from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday. The posters are free while supplies last.

Take a look at the flowers through kaleidoscope artist's Bob Ade's mounted sculptural garden scope. Small stained-glass scopes made by the renowned Lynnwood artist will be for sale.

"More artists are coming back. We are back to the pre-pandemic level," Chism said. "We have bigger names on the music stage. They are local acts, but larger local acts. We’ve beefed that up."

Gardening celebrity Ciscoe Morris will take the stage at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Ciscoe Morris, a longtime horticulturist and gardening expert, will speak at Sorticulture. (Photo provided by Sorticulture)

A beer and wine garden will be near the stage on Hewitt Avenue, between Colby and Hoyt avenues.

PNW Axe Throwing Company will offer people a chance to try to hit the bullseye.

"We are bringing back the lawn game feel," Chism said. "Axe throwing fits the theme with the whole nature, botanical, trees and stuff."

About 130 vendors will have tables offering garden art, gear, tools, accessories and plants.

Another 20 vendors from Everett Makers Market will be on California Street.

Phaedra Dunko, of Courting Frogs Nursery in Stanwood, brings out tray after tray of pitcher plants and other carnivorous plants as vendors prepare for Sorticulture Garden Arts Festival Thursday, June 9, 2022, on Colby Avenue in downtown Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

"It helps up-and-coming artists selling products not within the Sorticulture theme to get in on the action," Chism said.

Downtown businesses are invited to have sidewalk sales. Peoples Bank will have a raffle to give away artwork.

Everett offers free parking in the downtown garage on the weekends.

Better yet, use two wheels.

Sharing Wheels Community Bike Shop will offer free valet bike parking. A package holding area co-hosted by Housing Hope will keep your bird bath and other great finds.

Andrea Brown: 425-339-3443; [email protected]; Twitter: @reporterbrown.

Sorticulture showcase

Sorticulture is in downtown Everett on Colby Avenue, between Everett and Pacific avenues.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Sorticulture will be on Colby Avenue, between Everett and Pacific avenues.

Friday

11:30 a.m. Sunnyside Nursery class

1 p.m. Pacifica Chamber Orchestra

2:30 p.m. Peter Ali Native, American flutist and storyteller

4 p.m. Shoecraft, ambient folk rock

5:30 p.m. Bryan John Appleby, dream folk

Saturday

11:30 a.m. Zach Warnes Band, Everett-based hair folk

1 p.m. Ciscoe Morris, gardening expert and TV personality

3 p.m. John Van Deusen, Northwest indie

4:30 p.m. The Jaws of Brooklyn, Americana rock

Sunday

10 a.m. Scott Pietsch, singer-songwriter

11:30 a.m. Sunnyside Nursery class hosted by Trevor Cameron

1 p.m. Jeannie Rak, singer-songwriter

3 p.m. Paul Roberts, singer-songwriter

Talk to us

Sorticulture will be on Colby Avenue, between Everett and Pacific avenues.

Ciscoe Morris, a longtime horticulturist and gardening expert, will speak at Sorticulture. (Photo provided by Sorticulture)

People browse through the different glass wind chimes during Sorticulture at Legion Memorial Park on Friday, June 7, 2019 in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Ella Snitily, 3, watches her grandma as she works on decorating a stone during Sorticulture at Legion Memorial Park on Friday, June 7, 2019 in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Phaedra Dunko, of Courting Frogs Nursery in Stanwood, brings out tray after tray of pitcher plants and other carnivorous plants as vendors prepare for Sorticulture Garden Arts Festival Thursday, June 9, 2022, on Colby Avenue in downtown Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)