The 76th Santa Barbara International Orchid Show “Orchids – Floral Gems of Nature” will be held at Earl Warren Showgrounds Friday-Sunday, March 8, 9 and 10, 2024, 9:00 am-5:00 pm. Complete information on the show is on their website SBIOS.
Note: The March 6, 2024 OSSB monthly meeting and AOS judging are Cancelled.
Want to see the orchids at their freshest before the doors open? Here’s how.
OSSB Display Setup: Wed, March 6, 9:00 am-1:00 pm. Bring your orchids in for the Society Display. Assist Display Designer Phil Watt with installing the display. From lights to theme props, and of course orchids of all descriptions, you get to experience setting up an orchid display and insider’s access to the exhibit hall.
Phil has asked members to bring plants and lights. We need plants!! Do you have something in bloom? Clean it up and bring it in. He will be at the show starting at 9:00 am to receive plants. The earlier the better so he has an idea of where to place them in the display. The cutoff time is 1:00 pm, to allow time to write the labels and place them.
Ribbon Judging: Thurs, March 7, arrive before 8:00 am. Be an Orchid Judge during the Ribbon Judging session. A team effort, ribbon judging lets you get to know the details of exhibits and the orchids on display as you hunt down the judging entries for your expert evaluation. Your team will be led by an experienced judge who will explain what to look for in the best orchids.
OSSB Sales Booth: Fri, Sat and Sun, March 8, 9 and 10, 9:00 am-5:00 pm, JOIN US to staff the Society sales booth in the Sales hall. We really need everyone in the Society to help cover all 3 days for a couple of hours minimum. For some, shows are nice, but Shopping is the real thrill. We will have plants donated by members and by the Santa Barbara Orchid Estate. Bring your divisions and spare plants to the sales booth before 9:00 am on Friday for this once-a-year fund-raising opportunity!
Register Plants: Got something fantastic to display? Orchids need to sign up too. Register your plants for judging via online until 7:00 pm on Tues, March 5 or in person at the show before 6:00 pm on Wed, March 6. See the Exhibitor Guide on the show website to fill in the plant registration forms.
Volunteer: Be sure to check out the Volunteers page and sign up to donate a few hours to make this show one of the best in the world.
Visit our local nurseries on the California Orchid Trail! On the main page of the Show website scroll down for a map and list of orchid nurseries that will be open during show weekend including Cal-Orchid, Santa Barbara Orchid Estate, Gallup & Stribling Orchids, Westerlay Orchids, Ambriz Kingdom of Plants and Orchids Royale (by appointment).