A four-day flower-filled escape awaits with the inaugural Love Dahlias Festival taking place in Douglas.
Hosted by Love Dahlias, a boutique flower farm and online bulb store based in the Northern Cape town, the festival takes place from 18 to 21 March.
Behind Love Dahlias is Mareli Visser, best known as the Koekedoor winner of 2015, author of several books including the bread recipe book Uitgerys, and former TV presenter of “Die Koektannie” on VIA TV.
Mareli has been growing dahlias for four years and was born and raised in Douglas.
“When dahlias are in full flower, it’s not just ‘pretty’. It’s overwhelming. It’s joyful. It’s the kind of beauty that makes you quiet for a second,” she said. This inspired her to share the experience properly once a year during a festival.
Step into peak bloom season
For this inaugural festival, flower lovers, gardeners and creative souls alike are invited to step into peak bloom season for a curated mix of field experiences, practical learning during workshops, small-town indulgence and signature dinners.
Festival highlights include the Early Morning Dahlia Walk with Mareli, the Dahlia Masterclass, and creative sessions blending flowers with other crafts.
A range of ticketed workshops will run throughout the festival, presented by a line-up of respected collaborators.
These include Field to Vase: Designing with Dahlias (a floral design workshop), Creating the Dahlia Affair (floral installation workshop by Veldmeisie, Corli Leonard), and A Blooming Good Shot – Learn Mobile Phone Photography (Jaco Powell, Cape Fox Photography).
More workshops include Grow More Blooms – Seed Starting and Cuttings (Akanaka Blooms Farm Flowers, Nzwi Dyira), and Queen of Blooms (flower crown workshop for beginners).
Additional sessions include an Eco Fabric Printing Workshop with Katie du Toit, a Beekeeping Workshop hosted by Douglas Bee Farms at Moerby Padstal, and a question and answer session with Susie Le Blond of Flourish Urban Flower Farm.
Evenings during the festival will feature a standout culinary experience: The Dahlia Affair – a three-night dinner series with a celebrity chef.
“These dinners are not just meals – they are part of the festival story,” said Visser. “They are where the day’s creativity and the whole ‘dahlia mood’ comes together.”
Book tickets online
- Visitors are encouraged to book accommodation early, with a list of partner guesthouses available on the website.
- Tickets are now available, with limited capacity across workshops and signature experiences.
- Full programme details, ticket links, and festival updates are available via the Love Dahlias Festival page on lovedahlias.com.
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