Blake’s Lavender Market is back for 2022! Last year was my first time going and I had no idea what to expect. Now that I do, I wish to share some of what I know with you. First and foremost, the lavender festival ran for three days last year, just as it will this year. The open air marketplace was jam-packed with vendors selling crafts, commodities and other lavender-themed merchandise. Sprinkled around these booths were DIY activity tents and food vendors with honeys, jams, desserts and delicious lavender lemonade.
For other lavender-infused products like essential oils, kitchen and bath items, home decor and more, Lovey’s Lavender Artisan Market was open to the public. This year, Lovey’s is set to be open again on Saturday and Sunday. The Tasting Room and Orchard Square Tap were also open throughout the festival. For those old enough, I suggest visiting them this year to try their limited lavender infused hard cider and beer.
During the event, Blake’s also offered educational panels, classes and demonstrations on a variety of topics like gardening tips, pollinator information, nutrition recommendations and more. You can expect to find these kinds of seminars this year, as well.
For last year’s u-cutting, Blake’s provided a free train ride to their lavender field, as well as tools to help pick your plants. There wasn’t much shade over the fields, so I definitely recommend bringing sunglasses, hats or visors if you plan to go. Another great feature was that the ground around the lavender was covered in mesh, so people didn’t dirty their pants or legs when kneeling down to pick their flowers. Just be careful though! The mesh will be hot since it’ll be directly under the sun all day.
Despite the large amounts of people walking around the farm last year, the atmosphere was quite peaceful. The vendors were kind and visitors were mostly respectful. Overall, it was such a wonderful experience that I plan to attend again this year!
The 2022 Blake’s Lavender Market will be held on July 15-17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Tickets are $12 per person and can be purchased online here. Children ages 10 and under get in for free. To learn more about this year’s treats, activities and seminars, check out the Festival Guide.
Fair warning that while there’s a lot of space for free parking, it gets crowded very quickly. Also, the street in front of Blake’s is one lane going both ways, which makes traffic getting in and out somewhat slow. Lastly, it's recommended that you check the weather before coming in case it rains over the weekend. Happy lavender cutting!
Rachel Dearing works for Macomb County Planning and Economic Development
