47th Annual Mid-America Bonsai Exhibition
August 15-17, 2025

About  |  Guest Master  |  Vendors  |  Schedule  |  Workshops  |  Volunteers Needed! | Dinner and Auction  |  Tree Registration

Our August Exhibition has the longest history, going into its 47th year in 2025. 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.

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 bonsai show 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 Jonas Dupich will be our guest master for the 2025 Exhibition. More information will soon follow.

Interested in becoming a vendor? Please contact us!

Our vendor list will be announced in spring 2025. Check back then!

The workshop schedule will be announced closer to the Exhibition!

Putting on the August Exhibition is no small feat. Be it the setup of the show space, supporting our vendors unload and setup, helping direct patrons to the workshops, providing eyes and ears over the trees, or answering questions from those viewing the Exhibition, your volunteer hours help make the Exhibition run smoothly!

Please plan ahead and save some time on your calendar to volunteer!

Volunteers needed!

Planned to return in 2025, our ever-popular Dinner and Auction will be held during the Exhibition. Check back later for more details!

Tree registration for the Mid-America Bonsai Exhibition is open to all, regardless 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.

At drop-off (Thursday) and pick-up (Sunday) carts will be in short-supply for exhibitors to move their trees. Please try to bring your own cart, if required, to move your tree in and out of the exhibition.

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).

Check back closer to the Exhibition for on-line pre-registration forms!