Flower Mart's near-death and comeback: Baltimore's beloved festival survives unrest and reform

Baltimore’s Flower Mart, a century-old Mount Vernon festival started by the Women’s Civic League, nearly collapsed in the 1970s after violent unrest and repeated organizational turmoil, including a 1971 riot and venue shifts. Civic leaders helped revive it, moving venues and retooling management, with the festival returning to Mount Vernon in 1981 and later being sustained by nonprofit stewardship, ensuring the beloved city celebration endures today.