The 2021 GROW Jamestown Garden Fair, presented by Mike’s Nursery, is going virtual this year.

The annual event, focused on gardening education and the importance of neighborhood revitalization, is taking a unique direction in the face of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Formerly an event under the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation, the Garden Fair is now managed by the Jamestown Public Market, a program under St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.

“We are so excited to bring the GROW Fair under our umbrella,” Linnea Carlson, Market Director, shares. “JRC introduced this event to our community, and supported it’s growth year after year. Following their organization’s restructuring, we were happy to offer the market as the event’s new home. Unfortunately due to Covid we could not plan a physical event, however our volunteers were extremely supportive of pursuing a unique online event.”

The GROW Fair has consistently been organized by a dedicated group of community volunteers, including members of Cornell Cooperative’s Master Gardener program.

Traditionally, the fair sees over 2,000 attendees and as of 2019 hosted over 65 local vendors representing gardening, nursery, and local home improvement businesses.

“Our committee remains dedicated to the event despite it’s new organizational home. We are so appreciative of these volunteers; their knowledge and creativity has helped the event thrive.” Carlson states. She also reports that the future of the fair will continue to evolve, while returning to its original roots.

“The Garden Fair started off as a strictly gardening focused event. It fits in so naturally with the mission of the Public Market, and we plan to reinforce an emphasis on gardening, environmental sustainability, and our overall food system. Gardening plays a huge role in the food system, and we are excited to introduce some of those concepts into this year’s event.”

The GROW Garden Fair Virtual Event is scheduled for March 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will feature four regional presenters, including Grassroots Gardens of WNY, a non-profit dedicated to community gardening; Alexa Joan, chef and founder of Eat off Art, Buffalo; Twan Leenders, of Roger Tory Peterson Institute; and Adrienne Ploss, owner and operate of Hickory Hurst Farms. Registration is free and provides individuals the opportunity to view all four workshops, as well as enter an event raffle and receive exclusive discount offers from past Garden Fair vendors. Closed captioning will also be available during the event.

Individuals who do not have computer or internet access can reserve a computer for the event at the James Prendergast Library by contacting Jennifer Champ at 484-7135.

The Jamestown Public Market expresses its gratitude to returning and new sponsors that have made this event possible. The GROW Garden Fair is once again presented by Mike’s Nursery. Additional sponsors include The Resource Center; Novel Destination; and the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy.

Individuals can register for the GROW Garden Fair by visiting www.jtownpublicmarket.org/grow-garden-fair