On Saturday, May 10th, downtown Columbia City came alive with the sights and scents of spring as Columbia City Connect hosted its inaugural Flower Crawl, and it was nothing short of magical.
What started as a simple idea to celebrate spring and support local businesses blossomed into one of the most joyful events our downtown has seen. With 14 participating stops, dozens of smiling faces, and thousands of fresh flower stems, the day was a beautiful reminder of how vibrant our small town community truly is.
Build-Your-Own Bouquet, Shop-By-Shop
Flower Crawlers were given a mission: stroll downtown, pop into participating businesses, and collect one flower stem at each location. By the end of the route, participants had created their own gorgeous spring bouquets, each one unique, personal, and a reflection of the journey they had just taken.
It wasn’t just about the flowers (though they were stunning); it was about the experience. The joy of connecting with local shop owners, discovering new favorites, and sharing laughter with friends and family along the way.
Local Businesses in Full Bloom
We were blown away by how our downtown businesses embraced the floral theme and added their own special touch to the event.
Señor Fajitas rolled out a limited Flower Crawl brunch menu, offering fresh, flavorful bites perfect for a spring day.
Mama Had A Little Lamb served up beautiful floral-themed cookies that doubled as tasty works of art.
The Junction Café & Home Decor delighted guests with decorative floral hangers, the perfect take-home item for displaying fresh blooms.
Each stop offered something special, from floral-inspired treats to spring décor and shopping deals. It was a true celebration of creativity and community spirit.
A Big Thank You to Our Floral Partners
Of course, an event centered around flowers wouldn’t be possible without the experts. We were thrilled to partner with Bravo Floral, who curated and provided all of the floral stems for the event. From bold, colorful blooms to soft and elegant greenery, their selections were absolutely stunning.
We gave Bravo full creative freedom and they knocked it out of the park. Every stem added a new layer of beauty to the participants’ bouquets, and it’s safe to say their artistry was a key ingredient in the day’s success.
A heartfelt thank you also goes out to The Mercantile and Vintage Blessed General Store, who provided the handy floral carriers that kept everyone’s flowers safe throughout their downtown journey.
Community Feedback Was Blooming With Love
We’ve heard nothing but praise from attendees, businesses, and community members. The event not only brought people downtown but gave them a chance to make memories and celebrate the season in a truly unique way.
“This was a fantastic event! Thank you for hosting and making CC a great place to live, work & play!!” — Kaitlyn Sheets, Director of Sales and Operations at The Kitchen & Company
“We had so much fun! I hope to do it again next year!” — Kristen Kiproff, attendee via Facebook
Looking Ahead: Let’s Watch This Event Grow
“This was one of the most joyful events we’ve hosted,” said Olivia Hinen, Columbia City Connect Vice President and Promotions Committee member. “From the weather to the flowers to the community energy, it all came together perfectly. We’re already dreaming of next year and how we can make it even better.”
And we couldn’t agree more. The Flower Crawl was a beautiful blend of small-town charm, community connection, and springtime magic. We’re beyond thankful to everyone who participated, supported, and helped bring this idea to life.
Here’s to making the Flower Crawl an annual tradition and to watching it grow and bloom with each passing year.
Stay connected with Columbia City Connect for updates on future events, downtown happenings, and ways you can get involved. If you missed this year’s Flower Crawl, don’t worry, next spring will be here before you know it, and we’re already planning for more flowers, more fun, and more memories.
