One Week. Three Communities. Countless Experiences.
Countywide tourism initiative seeks partners to showcase the area’s gardens, nature, agriculture and outdoor experiences!
The Highlands County Tourist Development Council (TDC) is inviting businesses, attractions, organizations and community partners to help create the inaugural Garden Week, a countywide tourism initiative designed to attract overnight visitors to Highlands County during one of the area’s slower tourism seasons.
Taking place September 8-13, 2026, Garden Week is not a single festival or event held in one location. Instead, it will function like a Restaurant Week or an Art Walk. Participating businesses and organizations throughout Sebring, Avon Park and Lake Placid will each host their own unique garden-, nature-, agriculture- or wellness-themed experiences, allowing visitors to build their own itinerary while exploring the county.
The week will be anchored by Classic Caladiums’ Annual Open House in Avon Park on September 11-12, while highlighting gardens, parks, farms, restaurants, attractions and a variety of unique experiences across Highlands County.
“Garden Week represents an opportunity to showcase many of the wonderful experiences that already exist throughout our county while creating additional economic activity during a traditionally slower tourism season,” said Casey Hartt, Highlands County Tourism Director. “By working together, we can create a compelling reason for visitors to spend several days exploring Highlands County, supporting our local businesses and discovering everything our destination has to offer.”
The TDC is seeking participation from gardens, nurseries, farms, restaurants, parks, attractions, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, wellness providers and community groups. Participation is free for local partners and can be as simple as offering a garden-themed menu item, hosting a workshop, creating a special display, conducting a guided tour or highlighting an existing experience that aligns with the Garden Week theme. Adding value to experiences is encouraged over offering discounts.
“We’re encouraging partners to think evolution, not perfection,” Hartt said. “The goal for the first year is not to create large, expensive events. Instead, we’re asking businesses and organizations to work together to create a collection of experiences that encourages visitors to stay longer, explore more of Highlands County and return again.”
The TDC will coordinate an out-of-county marketing campaign through public relations, advertising, social media, a dedicated Garden Week webpage, visitor itineraries and other promotional efforts designed to drive overnight visitation.
To be included in Garden Week marketing, experiences or events must:
- Take place during September 8-13, 2026
- Be open to the public
- Support the initiative’s goal of increasing visitation and overnight stays in Highlands County
- Be hosted by your business/organization location or presented in partnership with another participating business or organization at their location.
Organizations interested in participating should submit their event or experience by Friday, July 17, 2026. Submissions will be reviewed for compatibility with the overall Garden Week concept, and inclusion is not guaranteed.
Garden Week is part of the TDC’s ongoing efforts to increase visitation, support local businesses and create new tourism opportunities throughout Highlands County.
For more information about Garden Week or becoming a participating partner, contact Reagan Fultz, TDC Manager, at (863) 402-6909 or Rfultz@highlandsfl.gov.
