Your Guide to the 2024 Philadelphia Flower Show
When can you bring your dog? How do you get discounts? What are the must-see exhibits? Whether you’re going to pick up some green tips, spend the day with family, or just take in the colorful artistry, here’s what you’ll want to know for your visit to the Flower Show.
The Entrance Garden to the 2024 Philadelphia Flower Show at the Convention Center. / All show photography by Laura Swartz
The Philadelphia Flower Show is back at the Convention Center, and it’s a welcome reminder that spring is not too far off. Till then, indoor flowers! And this year’s Flower Show provides plenty of visuals and spectacle for those there for the ‘gram, while still devoting a healthy amount of its space and mission to gardening for the originalists among us.
The theme this year is “United by Flowers,” which they define as the celebration of “the colorful community that comes together to share in their love of gardening, flowers, and plants, and the impact they make on our lives all year round.” That’s admittedly a little less coherent than pre-pandemic themes, which included Hawaii, Paris, and the ’60s-focused “Flower Power” of 2019. And designers had vastly different interpretations of the theme.
Jennifer Designs, for example, found nationwide connection — and perhaps leaned into the “United” part of the theme — with a large-scale map of the United States made of flowers and a road-trip aesthetic that encourages viewers to pose in car windows and “choose your own flower adventure” to discover the nation’s plant biodiversity.
Another section of the exhibits takes the theme more local, focusing in on Philly and its neighborhoods. A highlight exhibit is Lakeside School Greenhouse’s “Come Together,” which gives love to the Italian Market with business shoutouts, a cafe scene and rowhome stoops.
Speaking of dining, another group of designers seemed to focus heavily on the role flowers play in the larger realm of entertaining, constructing elaborate tablescapes and scenes that ranged from fancy to whimsical. (One is Alice in Wonderland-themed, complete with a hidden Cheshire Cat!)
My personal favorite exhibit celebrated community in a different way: Black Girl Florists created an installation that highlights “the connection between Black salons and flower shops as nurturing spaces.” With retro hair dryers, wigs made of flowers, and a magazine stand displaying Essence and Ebony, this one stood out for its strong message as much as its eye-popping design.
Suffice it to say, there’s something for everyone at this year’s Flower Show. So, whether you’re going to pick up some green tips, spend the day with family, or just take in the colorful artistry, here’s what you’ll want to know for your visit.
The Basics
Now in its 195th year, the Flower Show showcases designers, gardens and floral displays along with food and merchandise vendors. Expect dozens of gorgeous larger-than-life floral installations plus some hands-on activities for kids and adults alike.
As in the past, the main hall includes the entrance garden, leading to the promenade of large-scale artistic installations. The center of the main hall is the Horticourt — that’s where you’ll find more gardening-focused displays, demonstrations (including Potting Parties), and competitive categories ranging from miniatures to botanical jewelry to doorway displays. The rest of the main hall is devoted to the Marketplace.
This year, the show spills over into the concourse — an area they call Bloom City — with more vendors, craft activities, live butterflies and a kids’ play area — a welcome carryover from the pandemic-era FDR Park version.
Let me make it easier for you: Here’s a map to keep handy so you don’t miss anything you want to see.
The show runs from March 2nd to 10th. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, except for the final day which closes at 6 p.m. PHS members can get in an hour early each day to beat the crowds.
Things to Do
Head to the Marketplace to shop at 100-plus vendors. In addition to all the various gardening items you’d expect, you’ll find everything from jewelry to kids’ clothes to home goods and personal-care products. You’ll find even more shopping in the Bloom City area, which has a Makers Market.
If you’re not content to marvel at flowers and shop for various flower-adjacent (and completely unrelated) items, there are some special activities to look for. Every day, you can visit Artisan Row to make crafts alongside horticultural artisans — flower crowns, candles and jewelry, among other items. You can also build a succulent terrarium, or even a floral handbag! Each craft is an add-on, with prices ranging from $20 to $25. (If you don’t have the time or desire to make your own flower crown, head to the Bloom Bar inside the main hall to buy one for $32.)
Kids’ play area at the Flower Show
If you’re coming with kids, don’t miss out on the free Cocoon play area, where you’ll find open play, crafts, story times and even seesaws. The space will host hourly programming every day. This year, they’ll also be selling a special Flower Show coloring book designed by local artists. Also available here as an add-on every day of the show: Butterflies Live! Armed only with a Q-tip coated in sugar-water, enter a pollinator garden full of exotic butterflies and snap the perfect selfie with some fluttery friends. This exhibit requires an additional $5 ticket, available online.
Inspired to grow your own garden? Attend a daily Potting Party ($20) in the show to learn container gardening (so even if you don’t have a yard, you can exercise your green thumb), then take home your creation. Or attend a talk at the Know to Grow speaker series that runs every day during the show. And new for this year, daily Behind the Blooms tours led by expert-level horticulturists are designed for master gardeners to learn more about the show’s plant varieties and garden design concepts. Tours are limited to 15 people and require an extra ticket.
Special Events
The first weekend of the show pulls out all the stops for kids of all ages. On Sunday, March 3rd, the show hosts Family Frolic, a special day for families. In addition to the rest of the show, there will be hands-on activities and programming, face painting, giveaways and more for little ones. All activities are included with tickets.
Fido Friday returns on March 8th from 5 to 8 p.m. That’s when you can bring your four-legged companions for the evening. They have to stay on-leash, but they don’t require an additional ticket — and costumes are welcome, obviously.
If you’re looking to experience your flowers with a more adult-oriented crew, grab a ticket for Flowers After Hours, the show’s annual after-hours 21-and-up event that features an all-woman DJ lineup, as well as beverage tastings and show entry. This year’s theme is “Shimmer & Shine,” and the dress code is — you guessed it — glittery. That party will be held on March 9th from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m., and tickets are $75.
Flower Show Fun Around Town
And if all that’s not enough for you, the flower-themed splendor has inspired some specials around Philly.
If you want to make a whole day (and night) of it, head to the Loews Philadelphia Hotel. Its Flower Show package includes two tickets to the show, two themed cocktails at on-site restaurant Bank & Bourbon, and a room upgrade. Or stay at the Canopy, also right near the show, which has themed cocktails, along with a schedule of themed brunches and happy hours throughout the week.
Not one to sleep on a good theming opportunity, Craftsman Row has brought back its “Blooming Garden” pop-up with flowers as far as the eye can see, themed cocktails — and, of course, a themed over-the-top milkshake for the occasion. Also on the menu? A “bouquet” made of bacon.
Craftsman Row abloom for the Flower Show and spring / Photograph by Cody Aldrich
The Rittenhouse Hotel’s Library Bar is also decked out with a floral installation (by Starr Osborne and Flowers by Yukie), and they’ve got a specialty floral-themed cocktail menu for the duration of the Flower Show’s run. And really, any excuse to visit that cozy space is a win in our book.
More Philly restaurants with Flower Show cocktails include Dock Street in Fishtown, as well as Butcher Bar and Oltremare, both in Rittenhouse. Also in Rittenhouse: The new Greek spot Almyra, which is already decked out in flowers as part of its general aesthetic, is getting in on the fun with the Petalouda cocktail made with vodka, masitha, elderflower and butterfly pea tea, topped with an edible flower.
A Flower Show-themed cocktail at Almyra / Photograph by Gab Bonghi
Cocktails not doing it for you? How about a hibiscus churro sundae? El Merkury has it at both locations (Rittenhouse and Reading Terminal Market). It’s drizzled with housemade hibiscus-orange syrup, and topped with caramelized hibiscus flowers — and it’s only available for the duration of the Flower Show, so go get one.
El Merkury has a special hibiscus churro sundae for Flower Show. / Photograph courtesy of El Merkury
Also in Reading Terminal Market? A Flower Show-inspired squash blossom cheese boat from Saami Somi!
Plan Your Trip
The Philadelphia Flower Show takes place at the Pennsylvania Convention Center at 12th and Arch streets. It runs from March 2nd through 10th.
Tickets
Tickets are available online. They’ll run you $50 for adults ($40 on weekdays), $35 for students ages 18 to 24 (with valid ID), $25 for kids ages five through 17, and free for children four and under. Looking to save some money? This year, they’re offering discounted Twilight Tickets, which get you admission after 4 p.m. for $30 on weekdays and $40 on weekends. And, honestly, it’s a good deal because it can get really crowded during the day, especially on weekends. Family bundles are also available at online ticketing to save you a little money in advance. Add-ons like crafts and the live butterfly encounter are extra.
Getting There
A benefit of the Flower Show moving from FDR Park back to the Convention Center: It couldn’t be easier to get there. It’s a quick walk from City Hall (if you’re coming on the Broad Street Line) and 13th Street Station (on the Market-Frankford Line), and it sits directly on top of Jefferson Station on the Regional Rail, those of you coming from the ‘burbs.
