Flower Power comes to town – with special guests

UK Flower fans have a treat in store this summer as the Blackburn Cathedral Flower Festival returns.

Taking place from Thursday, June 18^th to Sunday, June 21^st, this year’s big event has the theme ‘Heaven and Earth’ and features internationally acclaimed floral architect Tom De Houwer.

De Houwer will have a unique installation at the festival and will be giving a demonstration to visitors.

Originally from Belgium, Tom De Houwer has been featured in magazines worldwide and is celebrated as one of the most talented flower designers in the world with his unique designs and holistic methods inspiring thousands of people worldwide.

As well as this special guest, Blackburn Cathedral Flower Festival will feature spectacular installations within the Cathedral and there will also be a range of fringe events as part of the festival.

These include a Preview Dinner, The Secret Garden Evening Jazz & Lights Event, Demonstrations by NAFAS (National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies) and an intimate concert of midsummer music by the Renaissance Singers.

Tom de Houwer said:

I am excited to be coming to the Flower Festival in Blackburn after hearing so many positive reports from the last event in 2016. The space and light of the Cathedral is the perfect setting for floral installations, and I am thrilled to be creating a unique design based around the sculpture of Christ the Worker by John Hayward that dominates the nave of the church.

This is my only visit to the UK this year and I am looking forward to sharing our mutual love of nature, flowers and sculpture.”

Councillor Phil Riley, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Executive Member for Growth and Development, said:

This is a very exciting guest for this year’s flower festival. For those in the know, Tom de Houwer is a very big name in this world, and to get his only UK visit this year is wonderful.

It is especially exciting to welcome the flower festival back this year and it will be a great boost for the borough. It is a national festival and should attract people from all over the country.”

Craig Bullock, Artistic Director of the Flower Festival, said:

We are thrilled that Tom is coming to Blackburn in June. His demonstrations are an incredible experience and tickets for this unique event are selling quickly with visitors from across the UK coming to see Tom.

You should expect the unexpected.”

Tickets for Tom’s demonstration on Thursday, 18th June at 1pm are available online now along with tickets for the Flower Festival and fringe events.

The demonstration takes place at King George’s Hall in Blackburn, a short stroll from the main festival location.

Discounted tickets can be purchased in advance from the Festival website  blackburncathedralflowerfestival.com

The Blackburn Cathedral Flower Festival 2020 is in partnership with Plumbs and is supported with sponsorship from Blackburn BID, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Blackburn Market, Cheetham Jackson, The DDC Group, Star Academies, High Level Maintenance, Westholme School, Perspex International, The Mall Blackburn with media partners BBC Radio Lancashire and Square Cactus.