Gloucester’s beloved tradition — the 39th annual Daffodil Festival — is just around the corner. Mark your calendars for Saturday and Sunday, April 5 and 6, and get ready for a weekend filled with live entertainment, delicious food, unique vendors, and, of course, breathtaking daffodils.
This family-friendly festival takes over Gloucester Main Street, bringing thousands of visitors together to celebrate the rich history and beauty of the daffodil, which has flourished in the county for centuries.
This year’s festival promises an exciting lineup, including more than 200 vendors, the seventh Virginia Regiment interpreters, and the brand-new VA250 Mobile Museum, which highlights Virginia’s incredible history.
Enjoy live music, interactive activities, a stunning daffodil show at Newington Baptist Church, and the beloved Daffodil Festival Parade kicking off Saturday morning. Whether you’re a longtime festival-goer or a first-time visitor, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
For information, visit https://www.daffodilfestivalva.org/.
‘It’s All Sunshine & Daffodils’ is the theme of this year’s Gloucester Daffodil Show
Courtesy Gloucester-Mathews Gazette-Journal
The 2025 Gloucester Daffodil Show will again be offered during the annual Gloucester Daffodil Festival, from 2-5 p.m. on Saturday, April 5, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 6, at Newington Baptist Church, Main Street, Gloucester. It is free and open to the public.
The theme this year, the 87th year of the show, is “It’s All Sunshine & Daffodils,” said a news release from the show committee.
The show is one of the largest in the country, said the release, drawing exhibitors, judges, and daffodil enthusiasts from all over the East Coast. Last year’s show included 84 exhibitors, 1,124 entries, and 2,098 stems in horticulture, along with 20 photographers and 100 photo entries.
Ian Tyler of Standish, England, will return this year to judge the horticulture division, said the release. New this year will be a photo booth allowing those attending to take photos of themselves in front of a daffodil display by Brent & Becky’s Bulbs and receive their photos via text message.
Horticulture and artistic design categories
There are numerous ways to compete in the horticulture division of the Gloucester Daffodil Show. The Royal Horticulture Society system of classification, which is the system used by the Gloucester Daffodil Show, has 13 different divisions, and each division has multiple classes. For example, Division 1 is for Trumpet Daffodil Cultivars, with nine different types of stems accepted. On top of that, each division is divided into two classes, one for a single stem and one for three stems of each type.
Then there are 12 different sections for competition, from standard daffodils to classic daffodils and from miniature to historic daffodils.
Daffodil enthusiasts may also compete in the artistic design division. Categories and themes for this year are Early Colonial — “April Showers Bring May Flowers,” Reflective Design — “Late Fallen Snow,” Miniature — “Dreary Dainty Daffodils,” Moribana — “In the Asian Manner,” and Creative Mass—“Aunt Bessie’s Hat.”
All artistic design entries must be pre-registered with artistic chair Kate Zullo by March 28 at Zphyr94@aol.com or 757-206-6909.
All show entries will be accepted from noon to 8 p.m. on Friday, April 4, and 7-10 a.m. on Saturday, April 5. Awards will be presented at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Main Street competition
Gloucester Main Street residents and businesses are invited to compete for awards by showcasing daffodils in their storefronts and yards. Categories are: Best In-Ground Planting, Best Container Planting, Best Decorated Door, Best Decorated Window, and Most Creative Design Featuring Daffodils. No registration is necessary.
Judging will take place on Thursday, April 3, with signs placed in front of winners’ homes and businesses the Thursday after judging, remaining until after the festival.
For questions, email daffodilshowofgloucester23@gmail.com.
Preparation workshop
Anyone interested in learning about showing daffodils in the horticulture division is invited to attend the Gloucester Daffodil Club’s Preparation Workshop, to be held from 4-6 p.m. on Thursday, April 3, at Brent & Becky’s Bulbs, 7900 Daffodil Drive, Gloucester.
The Gloucester Daffodil Show is a signature event of the Gloucester Daffodil Festival and is sponsored by Gloucester Parks, Recreation, and Tourism. It is sanctioned by the American Daffodil Society.
Registration for the preparation class and the show, along with rules and show schedules, can be found at gloucesterdaffodilclub.com or daffodilfestivalva.org.
For information, email Katherine Mazzoco at katherinemazzocco@gmail.com.
