Viles Arboretum to celebrate season with spring market, plant sale

Viles Arboretum’s spring market and plant sale is set for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 11, at 153 Hospital St. in Augusta. Submitted photo

AUGUSTA — Viles Arboretum is set to hold a spring market and plant sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 11, at 153 Hospital St., on the east side of the Kennebec River, provides the backdrop for the event.

More than 30 artisans and craftspeople from the area will be featured, plants and trees will be sold, and there will be music, entertainment, and food.

Autumn Addicts will perform a variety of rock, country and pop music from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the front lawn. In the visitor center, Tickles the Clown will perform a magic show from 11 a.m. to noon, and then be mingling with attendees performing magic tricks, according to a news release from Bethany Drouin with the arboretum.

A food truck will be onside to sell items from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the side parking lot.

The event, to be held rain or shine, includes vendors in the barn, several locations in the visitors center, as well as outside on the lawn.

In addition, several seedlings are available for pre-order to be picked up at the sale, including American Chestnut, American Persimmon, Paw Paw, Redbud, and Sweetgum. To order, visit viles-arboretum.square.site.

The market also provides an opportunity to learn more about on-going programs at Viles, including the Forests of the Future Project, its summer educational programs for students ages 7 through 14, and educational offerings for adults.

The spring market is free, but is also an opportunity for Viles Arboretum to raise matching funding for its trail accessibility project, which aims to ensure that its trails can be upgraded to provide access for those in wheelchairs or all differently abled individuals.

Parking for the event will be available on Piggery Road, at the Park and Ride and the State of Maine Department of Motor Vehicles lot. Parking spaces at Viles Arboretum’s main parking lot will be reserved for those needing help with accessibility.

For more information, visit vilesarboretum.org or find it on Facebook.