Philadelphia has tons of dazzling annual events that residents flock to and for good reason. Some of my favorites are the Chinese Lantern Festival and the Fringe Festival. Listen to this City Cast Philly episode to get the low-down on the most recent Fringe Fest 🎭
But, there’s one annual event that simply stands out among the rest…and it’s the most colorful of all. Every year since 1829 the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) has hosted the popular Philadelphia Flower Show.
It typically lasts for a little over a week and attracts about 250,000 guests from all over the world. It also raises about $1 million for PHS programs that promote sustainability and advance health and wellness.
A photo of myself with a blue butterfly on my hand at the Philadelphia Flower Show in 2019. (Brittany Valentine/City Cast Philly)
The show brings together hundreds of florists, landscapers, designers, and students who create eye-catching displays that celebrate the magic of botany and garden cultivation. Beyond just the garden displays, the show hosts a large juried contest in horticulture and floral arranging and presents gardening talks and presentations.
Shopping is also a major aspect of the event, with dozens of vendors setting up to sell a unique array of gardening tools, decorations, furniture, hand-crafted jewelry, flowers, plants, seeds, and much more.
This year, for the first time since 2019, the show is returning indoors. For the past two years it was held outdoors in South Philly’s FDR Park.
2023’s theme is “The Garden Electric,” and it will feature past favorites as well as some new additions such as mini music festivals and an Artisans Row.
