Unwind wellness studio harnesses power of flowers in support of Chalk Festival

This November, the annual Sarasota Int'l Chalk Festival is planned to host the United States' first delegation of floral carpet artists.

Yet it's also a challenging time for the event.

In July, the Sarasota County Commission cut about $40,000 in funding, while Chalk Festival executive director Denise Kowal says the city has raised fees to nearly three times the levels of the past. 

Nonetheless, at Unwind Massage & Wellness Studio, the sight of flowers was already emerging the evening of Sept. 20.

The business hosted the Flower Power Patron Party, which invited the public for floral arrangements, face painting, light bites, drinks and live music provided by local residents and businesses. 

Attendees had the chance to learn about the festival's Grow the Heart program, which provides free tickets to students and families in need, and about patronage of the event. 

Welch, like Kowal, was impressed with the turnout as waves of people crowded the studio space. She said while she always wants to support the festival, the theme of flowers was "ridiculously cool."

"I just am so proud of Sarasota as a community that we're hosting something like that," she said. 

"It's such a historic moment for Sarasota, that it was really great to be able to introduce it to people that are learning about it for the first time," Kowal said.