Famous books such as “Legends of Olympus,” “The Little Prince,” “The Divine Comedy,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” and “The Chronicles of Narnia” are brought to life in oversized floral and plant-based displays. Fifteen themed gardens immerse visitors in the stories of these books. Water projections, a flower maze, and one-of-a-kind decorations make the third edition of West Side Flower Fest, held between May 30 and June 1 in Drumul Taberei Park, the most spectacular yet.

This year’s theme is “The Literary Garden,” the central concept of Romania’s largest flower festival.

A giant book made entirely of flowers, created by Andreea Popa, will represent The Little Prince.
Florentina Drăghici will design three floral arches symbolizing Paradise, Hell, and Purgatory from The Divine Comedy.
A massive flower-covered arch by Dhaniel Nora will transport visitors into the Legends of Olympus, while Andrei Bindea opens a gateway to the magical world of The Chronicles of Narnia.
Adina Dancianu will create a 3-meter tall floral violin inspired by the novel The Violinist.

Over 100,000 flowers will be used in the festival, including around 60,000 for the themed gardens and some decorations. Thousands of petunias and geraniums will adorn the bridge over the lake, and 240 planters with 1,500 flowers will be suspended on the large inclined bridge.

The DGASPC house at the park entrance will also be filled with flowers.

Floral arches, gates, characters (butterfly, peacock, rabbit, cat, princess, etc.), and 5-meter-high metal tree-like installations will also be featured — along with a flower maze.

Children will enjoy a giant slide that ends in a pool of balls and foam. Visitors will also have the chance to test drive the new electric Renault 5 along the Drumul Taberei – Favorit route throughout all three days of the festival.

Each evening will end with a water projection show.

 “All events we organize in Sector 6 are high-quality, educational, and beautiful. We promote sports, culture, and respect for nature! The third edition of West Side Flower Fest brings more complex and spectacular decorations than anything you've seen so far,” said mayor Ciprian Ciucu. 

15 Literary Gardens in the Park

As in previous editions, unique gardens will be installed in Drumul Taberei Park, this time under the theme of “Literary Gardens,” inspired by books. Three will be designed by the organizers:

• ADPDU Sector 6 will create a sensory garden, with the help of a visually impaired collaborator, called “The Heart Garden” – an oasis of senses, where flowers are explored through touch, smell, and sound.
• DGASPC Sector 6 will recreate the garden from “Jack and the Beanstalk”.
• Renowned artist and scenographer Monica Răduță will design “The Secret Garden,” inspired by the book of the same name.

The other 12 literary gardens will be created by students from six universities across the country, with support from ADPDU Sector 6. These gardens will compete: the public will admire and vote for their favorites, and the two most beautiful will be awarded.

Each university will design two gardens:

• University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca – “Maitreyi” and “In the Courtyard of Dionysus” by Mircea Eliade
• University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Bucharest – “Nights at Serampore” by Mircea Eliade and “As Long as the Lemon Trees Bloom” by Zoulfa Katouh
• Sapientia University, Târgu Mureș – “One Hundred Years of Solitude” by Gabriel García Márquez and “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens
• University of Craiova – “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by William Shakespeare and “Adam and Eve” by Liviu Rebreanu
• King Michael I University of Life Sciences, Timișoara – “Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley and “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini
• “Ion Mincu” University of Architecture and Urbanism, Bucharest – “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott and “Before the Coffee Gets Cold” by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Other Attractions at West Side Flower Fest

For three days, children of all ages can participate in gardening workshops, painting, fan and bracelet making, flowered canvas crafts, recycling, robotics & LEGO, chemistry, and math workshops. There will also be a dedicated area for babies and preschoolers, with sensory activities on the grass.

According to organizers, 23 vendors will participate this year – 91 selling flowers and decorations, and 32 offering culinary delights. They will be positioned along Drumul Taberei Boulevard, between Brașov Street and Poiana Muntelui, in an area closed to cars and open to pedestrians.

On Children’s Day, organizers have prepared lots of surprises for kids and families over the three days: puppet theater, circus acts, interactive concerts, costume, makeup, and hairstyle shows, and dance demonstrations.
The amphitheater stage will host performances by Alina Sorescu, Andreea Bălan, Romanița, ventriloquist Ana Maria Mărgean, and various children’s choirs.
On the boulevard, there will be live performances and a flash mob by seniors from Sector 6.

West Side Flower Fest opens on Friday, May 30, at 4:00 PM. On Saturday and Sunday, the program runs from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Entry is free.

Written by News.ro | 30 mai 2025, 09:00