Floral Design Classes NOW OPEN 🌷 2027 Capital Region Flower & Garden Expo Classes

We invite you to participate in the 2027 Capital Region Flower & Garden Expo!

The Capital Region Flower & Garden Expo welcomes more than 17,000 visitors each year, offering an excellent opportunity to gain exposure for your shop, showcase your creativity, and connect with an audience that truly appreciates floral design.

This year’s floral design classes bring our Spring Awakening theme to life. Some classes will fill quickly, so we encourage you to sign up now by contacting the class advisor or emailing me at pennie@flowerandgardenexpo.com. The design and technical details can wait until after the first of the year.

Designers who register by February 9 will be guaranteed inclusion in our extensive marketing plan promoting the floral design portion of the show. This includes at least one event email blast, one dedicated social media post highlighting your shop and designer, inclusion in shared social media posts, and a listing on both our website and in the official show program.

I’ll make every effort to include late entries in our marketing, but complete fulfillment cannot be guaranteed after the deadline.

🌷Entries are NON-JUDGED — this is your chance to create freely and have fun.

2027 CLASSES: PRINTABLE

Class 1: 6 entries

SPRING BRUNCH

Style a substantial tablescape to wow your guests. Capture the essence of spring on a table measuring 6' long by 30" wide; entry must include a floor-length drape.

Advisor – Maureen McDonald (518) 446-9900

Class 2: 6 entries

A PORTRAIT OF SPRING

Choose a piece of spring-inspired artwork to display on a door, then create a complementary floral interpretation at its base. Must use color-coordinated drapes to cover the door and base.

Advisor – Michele Peters, AIFD (518) 446-9900

Class 3: 6 entries

BRING MAY FLOWERS

Creatively incorporate a watering can into a spring floral design. The design will be displayed on a 35" tall pedestal with a 15" top; the pedestal must be draped. Exclusively for first-time entrants.

Advisor – Chris Grigas (518) 577-7101

Class 4: 6 entries

FLUTTER

Construct a three-dimensional, freestanding butterfly using predominantly fresh flowers, with up to 25% dried materials permitted. The design will be displayed on a 40" tall pedestal with a 15" top; the pedestal must be draped.

Advisor – Ben Felthousen (518) 526-2973

Class 5: 6 entries

THE ORCHID GARDEN

Stylize a grand orchid and floral garden. Blend at least two (2) orchids and flowers of your choice. Use an 18"–24" wide vessel. The design will be displayed on a 30" round high-top table; the table must be draped.

Advisor – Nicholas Marshall (518) 502-3215

Class 5: 6 entries

CROWNING GLORY

Design an elaborate floral headpiece on a mannequin head, using flowers with optional foliage. The design will be displayed on a 40" tall pedestal with a 15" top; the pedestal must be draped.

Advisor – Chris Grigas (518) 577-7101

INSTRUCTIONS

Non-judged exhibits

Exhibitors must sign up to participate by contacting the class advisor.

Check-in at the McDonough Sports Complex LOBBY entrance on Thursday, April 1 between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM. All exhibits must be completed by 8:00 AM on Friday, April 2.

No artificial plant or floral material permitted. No artificial turf. No lit candles, no running water, no flyers, no signs. Business cards (in a holder) at the exhibit are acceptable and encouraged.

Before leaving, after your exhibit has been set up, remove any tape markers from the floor, fluff the drape behind your exhibit, remove all trash, and sweep your area.

Your exhibit must remain in place and fully intact until Sunday, April 4 at 5:10 PM. Arrangements not picked up by 7:00 PM will be discarded.

Your exhibit must be kept in pristine condition for the duration of the show. You may refresh your work each morning from 8:30 AM - 9:45 AM. An exhibit that is tired or droopy may be removed at the discretion of show management.

Exhibitors will receive a goodie bag with an exhibitor badge to enter the show during all show hours, plus two single-day guest passes.

Neither the flower show committee nor SpringThyme Marketing assumes any responsibility for exhibitors’ property. All reasonable care will be exercised.