46th Annual Mid-America Bonsai Exhibition
August 16-18, 2024
Black Pine by Tim Cox, as shown at the 2021 August Exhibition. Photo by Jen Fonseca.
Our August Exhibition has the longest history, going into its 46th presentation in 2024. It is one of the largest regional shows in the nation. Centered on the Chicago Botanic Garden's Permanent Collection, featuring over 50 world-class trees, it’s a showplace of trees from across the Midwest and beyond. Enthusiasts from across the country bring their trees to be judged in the main hall at the Garden's Regenstein Center.
A gallery of the 2018 41st Annual Mid-America Exhibition is available here. We have a review of the August 2017 Exhibition available here. We also have a review of the 2015 Exhibit available with that year's winners.
There is no cost to attend the Exhibition once inside of the Garden, but regular parking rates and per-person admission ticket prices apply for entry into the Chicago Botanic Garden. Please see the Garden’s dedicated webpage for pricing details.
Traveling from out of town? Many of the hotels near the Chicago Botanic Garden offer discounted rates.
The Midwest Bonsai Society is proud to announce that Jack Sustic will be our guest master for the 2024 Exhibition. More information will soon follow.
Vendors to be announced closer to the exhibition’s date
Please check back closer to the Exhibition for our workshop schedule!
Tree registration for the Mid-America Bonsai Exhibition is open to all, irrespective of residency or skill level. There is no fee to register trees. Trees are judged by our Guest Master, and critique sheets are provided to tree owners after the show. Trees are registered into four classes: Novice, Open, Professional and Non-Judged.
Novice – Any person who not won any ribbons or awards for any trees in a Midwest Bonai Society event
Professional – A person engaged in a specified activity, especially a branch of the preforming arts, as a main paid occupation rather than as a pastime. Said Bonsai professional should receive 50% or more of his or her total annual income from Bonsai related activities
Open – Everyone who is not a Novice or a Professional
Please note that due to a ban at the Chicago Botanic Garden, no Boxwoods will be allowed at the Exhibition. Our page dedicated to Boxwood Blight has more information.
While trees are spot-watered throughout the weekend of the Exhibition, please make sure your trees are thoroughly watered before tree registration.
The Midwest Bonsai Society reserves the right, in conjunction with Senior Member and Guest Master feedback, to reorganize and move trees and displays around the Exhibition at its discretion, for aesthetic or logistic purposes, at any point during the Exhibition. Lighting is fixed within the Exhibition hall; tree owners are not able or allowed to modify the lighting above or around his/her tree(s).
Please check back closer to the Exhibition for tree registration information.