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Everything you need to know about the 2023 PHS Flower Show

The show runs March 4 to 12 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center

Mayor Jim Kenney speaks during an announcement event about the PHS Philadelphia Flower Show at PAFA in Philadelphia, Pa. on Monday. This year's theme is “The Garden Electric.”
Mayor Jim Kenney speaks during an announcement event about the PHS Philadelphia Flower Show at PAFA in Philadelphia, Pa. on Monday. This year's theme is “The Garden Electric.”Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer

The Philadelphia Flower Show returns to the Pennsylvania Convention Center next month after two years at FDR Park. This is the first year in the show’s history that the gardens will occupy 2,200 to 2,900 square feet. This year’s theme, “The Garden Electric,” is meant to recreate the current that runs through one’s body after experiencing excitement.

Looking to go? Here’s what to expect:

Hours

The 2023 PHS Flower Show runs March 4 to 12. It opens every day starting at 10 a.m. but closing times vary:

  1. March 4, 10, 11: show closes at 8 p.m.

  2. March 5 to 9: show closes at 7 p.m.

  3. March 12: show closes at 6 p.m.

Tickets

No more buying date-specific passes or paying an extra $5 for “Any Day” entrance: This year’s tickets are valid for one visit any day of the show. You can get them at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society website or on-site at the Convention Center.

  1. Adults: $43.50.

  2. Students (18-24): $30 with a valid student ID.

  3. Children (5-17): $20. Kids 4 and under enter for free.

  4. Family discounts: There are two packages: two adults and one child ($100) or two adults and two children ($120).

There is also the option to insure your tickets by paying an extra $3 per person. This will grant you a refund in case you can’t make it due to weather, accident, injury, or illness.

Activities and events

🎸 Live music: Curated by local group Snacktime, live music will be held at the Flower Show every day. Starting at noon, performers will take the stage for sets up to two hours each. The lineup includes Xtina, Fareed S.H., Katie Dill, Kara Koser, 3xplotits, Ajay, Josh Lee and family, DJ Aktive, and a performance by Philadelphia School District students. 💵 Free.

👪 Kids Cocoon: This year the Cocoon will feature a play area for children to learn about pollinators, plant seeds, and take them home. 💵 Free.

👪 Family Frolic: Looking for activities your kids can do while you enjoy the show? On March 12, children can partake in face painting, giveaways, mascot visits, and more. 💵 Free.

🐶 Fido Friday: On March 10, you can bring your furry friends to the Flower Show. 💵 Free.

🦋 Butterflies Live: This experience lets you enter a butterfly habitat, see how they interact with each other and their surroundings, and respectfully take pictures. Tickets are required. 💵 $5.

🏺Potting Parties: Learn the ins and outs of container gardening with Grammy Awards flower designer Tu Bloom. You will need to buy a ticket for this workshop and reserve a spot at 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m., or 3:30 p.m. 💵 $10.

✂️ Artisan Row: Learn how to make candles, handbags, succulent terrariums, dried flower bud vases, botanical jewelry, and flower crowns. A separate ticket needs to be purchased for each class. 💵 $20-$25.

👸 Bloom Bar: This has nothing to do with alcohol — it’s a flower crown bar, where you can get premade creations to fit the aesthetic of the show. 💵 $33.

🌺 Design & Dine: On March 5, folks will get a chance to create their own floral arrangements while sharing a meal. A charcuterie bento box and a Mediterranean mezze box make up the menu. You need separate tickets for this activity and to reserve a time slot for 11 a.m., 1 p.m., or 1:30 p.m. 💵 $40.

🌃 Flowers After Hours: This year’s dance party will take place March 11 from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. The theme is Garden Noir; participants will wear all-black attire and masks. This event is for people 21 and over with an ID. Tickets available online and on-site. 💵 $75.

🎫 Early Morning Tours: Although folks don’t need a guide to explore the Flower Show, you can buy a two-hour tour with show veterans. Tours are available March 5-12. Early morning photography tours are also available March 6 to 10. Both start at 8 a.m. and end at 10 a.m. 💵 $110 for the traditional tour and $130 for the photography tour.

Food and drink

Unlike previous years, the Flower Show won’t be curating the food and drink menus. Hospitality company Aramark will oversee the options. However, there will be plenty of food vendors throughout the Flower Show, particularly in Bloom City in the Grand Hall. And you can always check out the Convention Center cafeteria Overlook Cafe. If you plan on eating outside the venue, Reading Terminal Market and Chinatown are great nearby options.

Exhibitors

The 2023 Flower Show will feature both professional and nonprofessional designers, including Black Girl Florists, Ill Exotics, Newfields led by Jonathan Wright, Harijanto Setiawan, Treeline Designz, Apiary Studio, and Susan Cohan Gardens. The full list of 2023 exhibitors can be found here.

There will be competitive categories for windowsill decorating, doorway decorating, miniature floral design, floral arrangements, pressed plants, and botanical jewelry. Additionally, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Hamilton Horticourt will be making a comeback with new competitions for forced-cut branches, citrus, and arrangements.

How to get to the Flower Show

The Pennsylvania Convention Center is located at 1101 Arch St. Here’s how you can get there:

  1. 🚴‍♀️ Bike: 19 minutes from South Philly, 30 from North or West Philadelphia.

  2. 🚌 Buses: Take lines 4, 10, 11, 13, 16, 17, 21, 23, 33, 34, 36, 38, 42, 47, and 48.

  3. 🚇 Subway: On the Market-Frankford line, the 11th Street Station leaves you within a three-minute walk from the Convention Center. On the Broad Street Line, the Race-Vine Station will leave you a minute away from the venue.

  4. 🚉 Regional Rail: Getting off at Jefferson or Suburban Station will take you within a few minutes’ walking distance. Additionally, SEPTA will increase weekend service for the Flower Show on the Warminster, West Trenton, Media-Wawa, and Trenton lines.

Parking

The Convention Center recommends parking at one of the lots closest to the show run by ABM Parking, E-Z Park, iParkit Philadelphia, Park America, Parking Facility, Parkway Corporation, and SP+ Parking.

You can also park at a Philadelphia Parking Authority garage:

  1. The Autopark at the Fashion District: 📍44 N. Ninth St., 💰$10 for 1 hour, $25 for 12 hours, ⌚ 6 a.m. to midnight, 🚶‍♀️ 3 minutes.

  2. The Autopark at Jefferson: 📍10th and Ludlow Streets, 💰$16 for 1 hour, $28 for 12 hours, ⌚ 5 a.m.-11 p.m., 🚶‍♀️ 5 minutes.

  3. Parkade on 8th: 📍Eighth and Filbert Streets, 💰$14 for 1 hour, $26 for 12 hours, ⌚ 24/7,🚶‍♀️ 6 minutes.

  4. The Family Courthouse Garage: 📍1503-11 Arch St., 💰 $18 for 1 hour, $31 for 12 hours, ⌚ 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. (Monday-Friday) and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends, 🚶‍♀️ 2 minutes.

  5. Gateway Parking Garage: 📍1540 Vine St., 💰 $23 for 10 hours, ⌚ 24/7, 🚶‍♀️ 4 minutes.

Where does the money go?

The Philadelphia Flower Show is organized by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. The nonprofit, created in 1827, uses the funds to support neighborhood programs, create community gardens, provide low-cost gardening programs, design and maintain free public gardens, and plant trees.