Canterbury businesses host party, garden walk

Last year, the merchants of the shops on Canterbury Road hosted a block party to introduce new businesses and to open their doors to the community.

“[At the party], people who have a difficult time making it in before we close came out and enjoyed a chance to shop for themselves or buy a gift after work and get dinner at the food truck, too,” said Elizabeth Adams, owner of Ex Voto Vintage Jewelry. “We loved seeing families out and about.”

Now, the Mountain Brook community will be able to experience this night annually. 

On Oct. 5, Canterbury Road will be blocked off to traffic to make way for the now yearly Block Party and Village Garden Walk. Residents looking to enjoy extended store hours, business specials and creative floral decor can stop by between 5 and 8 p.m. to take in the experience.

“Last year, many stores in the village had a botanical theme to their windows the night of the block party to kick off the start of Antiques in the Gardens. This year, we are creating more of an event around the floral windows aspect with the Village Garden Walk,” Adams said. 

Botanical and garden-themed windows created by local floral designers will fill storefronts, and the chamber wants all businesses to participate.

“We have beautiful and unique boutiques here in the village and by each shop partnering with a local floral designer for their windows, we will really highlight the beauty and creativity here in the city,” Adams said. 

“The village is already a charming place to walk and window shop, and the windows at the Village Garden Walk should make the activity all the more inspiring.”

The evening will feature special guests and offer door prizes. Bromberg’s will have a wine tasting and guest jeweler Roberto Coin, Dram is creating a “special, floral-infused cocktail,” and the La Cantina food truck will be onsite. 

For those looking to dance, Will O’Rear and Brian Felder of the The Respectables will perform. Guests will also be able to view a botanical installation on the center green of the village.

The installation, created by Leah Hazard and Bill Ingram, is to celebrate the Antiques in the Gardens event that starts at 9 a.m. the following morning at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. 

The Gardens is also promoting the Block Party and the Village Garden Walk for its guests in town for Antiques in the Gardens and who may have arrived the night before.

“The two events, Block Party and Village Garden Walk, will be a big draw for people local and visiting,” Adams said. “This is an evening with multiple layers of entertainment and should be a great night to be out and about in the village.”