The second annual “March in the Park” is set to open this morning.
It’s from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Jaycee Park in Cape Coral, where area residents can tour the serene park on the banks of the Caloosahatchee River, learn about gardening and purchase plants for sale.
Ginny Huffer, event organizer and garden club member, said March in the Park is ready to begin regardless of the weather.
“Everybody is ready, I have gotten calls this morning, we’re going to do it rain or shine,” she said. “The vendors are coming.”
Southwest Florida was inundated with rain Thursday and Friday, but early reports show no precipitation on Saturday.
“It may be cloudy but it isn’t going to rain,” she said. “Things may be a little wet and the plants a little soggy, but I think we can manage around that.”
This week the number of vendors participating in March in the Park increased from 30 to approximately 40, said Huffer. They will be selling a number of plants including hibiscus, bromeliads, orchids and bamboo, to name a few. That’s nearly double the first annual event, which had 20 vendors.
There will also be speakers each hour addressing topics related to plants or gardening. One will be speaking each hour on different gardening issues.
Live entertainment will be provided by a local DJ and vendors are selling food to residents attending the event. Some vendors include the Northeast Kettle Corn, Gramp’s Italian Kitchen, an Italian ice provider and a breakfast provided by two different clubs from Cape Coral High School — the Florida Future Educators of America and the Florida Career and Community Leaders of America.
Gardening items will be raffled off during the day and raffle tickets are $1 each. Those who attend the event can win a hand-painted rain barrel, a bird cage, a wheel barrel full of gardening supplies and tickets to the Edison and Ford Winter Estates or Cultural Park Theatre.
March in the Park is a free event and organizers are inviting anyone from the community to attend.