Historic Shepherdstown will be bustling with garden-related activities the weekend of May 18-19. The streets of this historic colonial town will be alive with music, flowers, art, fresh farm produce, garden goodies, demonstrations by experts and fabulous food. The businesses and townspeople of this quaint town are organizing activities for all ages.

The GardenFest’s hours will be 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Sunday, rain or shine. Please check the visitor’s center web site at “http://www.shepherdstownvisitorscenter.com”>www.shepherdstownvisitorscenter.com for updated information and parking locations.

There will be demonstrations on composting, bee-keeping, community gardening, chicken cooping, pottery-making, backyard habitats, planting in shade and sun, bird watching and more.

There will also be live music, art shows, movies and dance performances. Local landscapers and gardening centers will be selling plants and offering ideas for future gardening projects at home.

Shepherdstown is lined with over 30 one-of-a-kind shops each of whom will be offering garden related-items such as original paintings and prints, jewelry, clothes, garden statuary and birdhouses, unique containers and plants for sale. The more than a dozen fine dining and casual restaurants are distinguished by serving a variety of cuisines: Italian, French, Thai, American, Middle Eastern and Chinese, many prepared with local ingredients. The town’s Farmers Market is open on Sunday from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Also on tap for this weekend is Shepherdstown’s Back Alley Garden Tour & Tea, which is now in its 13th year. This event, which bills itself as “not your garden variety garden tour,” will include self-guided walking tours of public and private gardens in town. The event is a major fundraiser for the Shepherdstown Community Club. Admission will be $25 for both the tour and tea or $15 for just the tour or the tea. For more information please visit the event’s website at www.backalleygarden.org.