In its 195th year, encompassing 10 acres of space at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, and welcoming about 250,000 visitors each year, it is no wonder that the PHS Philadelphia Flower Show is the nation's largest and longest running event of its kind. The Flower Show has become an annual tradition for many families and this year’s theme, “United by Flowers," celebrates the community that is created by a shared appreciation of gardening, an activity that families can do together, even with the littlest “green thumbs.”
My family decided to attend the show this year for the first time, and my 9-year-old twin daughters were delighted by the entire experience.
Passing through the entrance hall, we were greeted by a beautiful aquatic floral spectacle, boasting the Flower Show's largest body of water ever created and vibrant floral sculptures. The exhibits include a giant floral map of the United State of America, beautiful wildflower displays, tree branches that are over 12 feet tall, huge displays of flowers suspended from the ceiling, and so much more.
Some viewing tips for kids:
- Be sure to take the time and walk through the interactive displays in the educational section using the designated footpaths.
- Make sure to take a photo with the car door at the Jennifer Designs exhibit. It's across from the large USA map, and the kids can pose for photos that make it look like they are driving a car.
- Don’t miss the dinosaur tablescape towards the back of the main exhibit area.
- Penn Museum has an educational exhibit “Ancient Food,” exploring what plants were important to communities who lived thousands of years ago.
There are so many more wildly creative gardens on display including a floral Niagara Falls, a hair salon brimming with flowers, flowers that are arranged in striking geometric designs, and more. If you children are patient and interested enough, a family could easily spend several hours admiring the landscape, floral, and education-related designs. There is also a large indoor marketplace with various art and gardening vendors, but this might not be of interest to most kids.
Kids Cocoon is in the Grand Hall and is a special area just for kids to have fun, learn, and play. My daughters loved creating the free craft, playing with the potting soil, and exploring the kid-friendly area. Families can purchase a unique Flower Show coloring book made by local artists, so kids can keep coloring beautiful flowers even after they leave the show.
One extra Flower Show feature that is popular with the little ones is the Butterfly Experience. There is an admission price of $5 per person but I thought it was well worth it. Attendants hand each guest a Q-tip dipped in sugar water to attract the butterflies. Guests are given a 10-minute time frame, but that was plenty of time. It was easy to find a butterfly to land on the cotton swab, hold in your hand or even have perch on your arm. My daughters were fascinated by the beauty of the over 30 species that filled the space.
There are a few Bloom Bars throughout the show, where you can purchase pre-made fresh floral crowns from expert floral designers to wear while you explore. We did not get a chance to buy one, but saw many people wearing the beautiful handmade creations throughout the day.
Dining options are plentiful around the Flower Show. The Hard Rock Café is also accessible without going outside and directly across the street is the Reading Terminal Market, filled with any kind of food you might be craving.
There is a nursing mother's lounge on the first floor of the Convention Center as well as a coat room outside the main show hall. Strollers are welcome and I did see many of them, but it looked difficult to navigate with one on a crowded day. Weekends are the busiest time to go, with weekdays after 3 pm being the least crowded.
Tickets may be purchased at the Convention Center, prices are $49.99 for an adult and $25 for children ages 5 to 17. Kids under 5 are free. Family Fun Packs can be purchased for 2 adults and 1 child or 2 adults and 2 children to save $5 on weekdays and $7 on weekends. A new option, Twilight Tickets, are valid after 4 pm and cost $29.99 Monday to Thursday and $39.99 from Friday to Sunday.
Parking guides can be found on the Flower Show website, but I found it easiest to take the train. The Market East (Jefferson) Station is right at the Convention Center and visitors don’t even need to step outside.
Overall, my daughters were thrilled with their first Flower Show experience. The show organizers’ efforts to make the PHS Flower Show even more family-friendly have not gone unnoticed.
The Flower Show is run by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, a nonprofit organization that supports gardening education, creation of green jobs, community gardens, Plant One Million trees campaign and creation of green spaces throughout the region. The 2024 show runs from March 2 through March 10 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.