For the first time in its history, the renowned Philadelphia Flower Show will be an outdoor event in 2021.
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society said the long-running exhibition is being re-imagined to provide a new, safe experience for visitors.
“We are thrilled to be able to celebrate the outdoors and offer joy and beauty after a year that has been marked by so many challenges,” said Sam Lemheney, the society’s chief of shows and events. “This experience is a wonderful example of the enduring and combined power of green space, plants and gardeners to create impact and inspiration.”
The show will take place June 5-13 in Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park, adjacent to South Philadelphia’s Sports Complex area.
“Habitat: Nature’s Masterpiece” will feature all-new displays and activities for gardeners, plant enthusiasts and design aficionados, according to the show website.
The departure from the show’s typical late-winter timing comes in response to the covid-19 pandemic. It is hoped the change will provide for a safe environment that will include timed ticketing to limit attendance and allow for social distancing, along with other safety precautions.
“The early June dates at the height of the growing season provide a multitude of opportunities for gardeners to get inspired and get growing after their show visit,” the release said. “Visitors will have an entirely new themed experience that will take place within three distinct districts that feature all manner of plants, design and gardening and created for all skill levels.”
The expanded show will cover 15 acres in the park, a registered historical district built to the design of Olmsted Brothers, the firm of Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. and John Charles Olmsted, in the early 20th century. The format will introduce many new features while including traditional elements of previous shows.
Typically held in the Philadelphia Convention Center, the show was founded in 1829 and is the nation’s largest and longest-running horticultural event. It raises funds for the horticultural society’s programs that support health and well-being, including those that bolster food security and tree canopy in communities that have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.
Tickets go on sale in January.
Details: phsonline.org
