SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The 12th Annual Festival of Flowers is coming to the Springfield Museums beginning on Thursday. AIC alumni return to campus to give public health lecture Starting Thursday night and running through the weekend, a vast array of blossoms and bouquets will be on display. Over 60 floral arraignments will fill the galleries of the art, history, and science museums. This will be the largest floral show presented at the Museums to date. “We are thrilled to welcome so many new and returning florists and garden club members to the galleries of the Springfield Museums,” says Larissa Murray, Director Education. “Their creative work and generous spirit will bring joy and rejuvenation to our visitors as we celebrate spring!” The event is free with admission. There will also be a number of related events at the museums over the next few days, such as the following: Museums á la Carte: Conservation of Rare Plants in New England- Thursday, April 3, 12:15 pm: Learn where rare plants are found in New England and what efforts are being made to preserve plant habitats and conserve individual species. Presented in-person and online. Members free; nonmembers $4. Festival of Flowers After Hours - Thursday, April 3, 5–8 pm: Enjoy hors d’oeuvres and cocktails while touring the interpretive floral arrangements in all four museums. Experience floral fashion, make your own wearable floral accessory, celebrate Vincent van Gogh’s artwork, and get creative with floral-inspired art activities. Live music, complimentary food, and cash bar. Reservations suggested. Members $15; nonmembers $25. Festival of Flowers: The Flower Lab - April 4–6, 10:30 am–4 pm: Hands-on learning with real plants! Pull-apart dissections, a please touch table, and floral scent identification. Free with museum admission. Festival of Flowers: Docent Tours - April 4–6, 11:15 am–4 pm: Join experienced docents as they discuss the interpretive floral arrangements and the museum objects that served as inspiration. Meet in the lobby of each museum.  Free with museum admission. Festival of Flowers Family Day - Saturday, April 5, 10 am–5 pm: Tour the galleries to view extraordinary floral designs inspired by objects in the Museums, then explore the world of flowers through hands-on activities. Free with museum admission. Museum School Class: Floral Art in Pastels - Friday, April 4, 10 am–3 pm: Working from live flower arrangements in the gallery, capture still life in pastels with Lisa Regopoulos. For all levels. Please bring lunch. Registration required. Members $85; nonmembers $100. Museum School Class: Gel Plate Printmaking - Friday, April 4, 1–4 pm: Explore the world of printmaking with Amanda Barrow and create seven one-of-a-kind prints, incorporating the use of real botanicals and leaves. Registration required. Members $85; nonmembers $100. Museum School Class: Cyanotypes - Saturday, April 5, 10 am–12 pm: An introductory workshop on cyanotypes (blue and white prints made by exposing paper coated with iron salts to light) with Susan Cagan. Learn how to make a conduct a study of exposure times and create a cyanotype direct contact print. Registration required. Members $40; nonmembers $48. Local News Headlines Festival of Flowers: Celebrating floral art, science at Springfield Museums MassDOT to propose new Chicopee Street bridge during meeting Tax filing deadline nears: Prepare now to avoid issues List of companies hiring during job fair held at Hampshire Mall WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. ...read more read less