December 9, 2020, PHILADELPHIA, PA – The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) announced today it will completely reimagine its Philadelphia Flower Show to allow for a new, safe experience in a historic Philadelphia park that will provide all of the beauty and horticultural inspiration that guests have experienced for more than 192 years and so much more.
The Philadelphia Flower Show will take place June 5 - 13, 2021 at the historic Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park (FDR Park) in South Philadelphia, taking advantage of the park’s inspiring natural beauty and expansive central location adjacent to South Philadelphia’s Sports Complex area.
The Flower Show’s move to an outdoor venue, the first time in its history, will allow for new creative expression and horticultural displays as well as social distancing and the health benefits of being outside.
This departure from the Show’s typical late winter timing is in response to the pandemic. PHS has been working closely with event experts and city officials to plan for a safe environment that will include timed and date-specific ticketing that limits attendance at any given time and allows for social distancing and other safety precautions.
“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. This experience is a wonderful example of the enduring and combined power of green space, plants, and gardeners to create impact and inspiration,” said Sam Lemheney, PHS Chief of Shows & Events.
The expanded Show will cover 15 acres allowing for a spectacular presentation of the nation’s most looked-to gardening and floral attraction. This new format will introduce many exciting new features while continuing to include cherished elements of traditional Philadelphia Flower Shows. The Show raises funds to support health and wellbeing through PHS programs, such as those that bolster food security and tree canopy in communities that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic throughout the region.
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. 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.
Throughout the event, impressive landscapes and architecture abound. FDR Park, a registered historical district was built to the design of Olmsted Brothers, the firm of Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. and John Charles Olmsted in the early 20th century. With walkable pathways, majestic trees and breathtaking views, FDR Park is an inspiring venue that contributes to the splendor that the Flower Show is known for while also being accessible by mass transit and car.
Public safety is a critical component for the upcoming Show and adherence to recommendations from the CDC and City/State health officials is paramount to Show planning. Timed and dated entry as well as cleaning and social distancing guidelines are part of the early plans. PHS will continue to work closely with health officials leading up to the Show with updated guidance available at PHSonline.org.
For more details regarding the 2021 Philadelphia Flower Show, please visit PHSonline.org.
Ticketing Information:
Tickets go on sale in January and early purchase is recommended: PHSonline.org
PHS members may choose from a variety of special ticketing offers. Membership includes a contribution to PHS regionwide greening efforts as well as year-round benefits of interest to gardeners of all skill levels. To become a PHS member or to purchase a membership as a gift, visit PHSonline.org/support-phs/membership.
Show Dates and Hours:
Attendees must reserve a date and time of visit for all tickets purchased. Tickets are limited. Advance purchase strongly recommended.
Saturday, June 5, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
- AM Entry: 8:00 am – 1:00 pm
- PM Entry: 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Sunday, June 6 – Sunday, June 13, 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
- AM Entry: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
- PM Entry: 2:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Entry is prohibited within 30 minutes of Show closing each day.
ABOUT PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS), an internationally recognized nonprofit organization founded in 1827, plays an essential role in the vitality of the Philadelphia region by creating healthier living environments, increasing access to fresh food, growing economic opportunity, and building deeper social connections between people. PHS delivers this impact through comprehensive greening and engagement initiatives in more than 250 neighborhoods; an expansive network of public gardens and landscapes; year-round learning experiences; and the nation’s signature gardening event, the Philadelphia Flower Show. PHS provides everyone with opportunities to garden for the greater good as a participant, member, donor, or volunteer. For information and to support this work, please visit PHSonline.org.
ABOUT THE PHILADELPHIA FLOWER SHOW
The PHS Philadelphia Flower Show is the nation's largest and the world’s longest-running horticultural event and features stunning displays by some of the world’s premier floral and landscape designers. The Show has been named “Best Event” by the International Festivals and Events Association and “Best of the Best” by the American Bus Association (for the fifth consecutive year) in 2020-2021.
Started in 1829 by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, the Show introduces diverse and sustainable plant varieties and garden and design concepts. In addition to acres of garden displays, the Flower Show hosts world-renowned competitions in horticulture and artistic floral arranging, gardening presentations and demonstrations, special events, and the citywide Bloom Philly pre-Show celebration.
PHILADELPHIA PARKS & RECREATION (PPR) advances the prosperity of the city and the progress of her people through stewardship of nearly 10,200 acres of public land and waterways, and management of 500 recreation buildings, 166 miles of trail, and 250 playgrounds. PPR offers safe, enjoyable recreation, environmental and cultural programs and events throughout Philadelphia's parks and recreation system. PPR promotes the well-being and growth of the city’s residents by connecting them to the natural world, to each other and to fun, physical and social opportunities.
In 2017, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Commissioner Kathryn Ott Lovell, set about implementing the park system’s first strategic plan: Our Path to 2020 and Beyond. As a result, PPR is undertaking a period of historic change, setting the department on a course to become a modern, equitable and exceptional parks and recreation system. Visit us at Phila.gov/parksandrec, and follow @philaparkandrec on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
FDR PARK –1500 Pattison Avenue and S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PAFranklin Delano Roosevelt Park (FDR Park) is Philadelphia’s iconic 348-acre park carved out of the tidal marshes in South Philadelphia. Designed by the Olmsted Brothers in 1914, FDR Park’s sequence of picturesque lakes with adjacent lawns are connected by a network of carriage and footpaths. In 1926, the park hosted the national Sesquicentennial Exhibition and several grand civic buildings, including the iconic Boathouse, opened for the first time.
Today, FDR Park hosts a playground, 4 baseball diamonds, a renowned skate park, a network of lakes, the Swedish American Museum, and 126 acres of woodland. In 2019, after engaging with nearly 3,000 community members and stakeholders, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and the Fairmount Park Conservancy published a master plan to reimagine a historic Olmsted Park to serve 21st century Philadelphians. The plan, designed by WRT, creates an ecologically sustainable vision for FDR Park that inspires investment, meets the needs of all users today and tomorrow, and focuses on resiliency in the face of a changing climate.
Read more at MyPhillyPark.org.
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