Indianapolis Bonsai Club Events and Shows: What to Expect

Updated

The Indianapolis Bonsai Club (IBC) hosts monthly meetings plus several public shows and sales each year, and the club's calendar is the place to confirm dates and details. Meetings are generally the first Wednesday evening of the month at Garfield Park Conservatory, while the larger public events include the Garfield Park Fall Bonsai Show and a bonsai sale at the Penrod Arts Fair. Some events are members-only, so check the listing before you plan to attend.

Monthly meetings

IBC meets monthly, and recent calendar entries show the pattern: meetings are held on the first Wednesday of the month at 7 pm at Garfield Park Conservatory. Topics rotate between practical seasonal care and hands-on workshops.

Examples from the club's calendar:

  • October Meeting: Overwintering Bonsai — October 7, 2026
  • November Meeting: Photo-logging Bonsai Workshop — November 4, 2026
  • December Holiday Gala — December 2, 2026
  • September Meeting: Members Only Annual Auction — September 2, 7 pm, Garfield Park Conservatory

The September meeting is the one exception to the open-meeting pattern: it is a members-only auction. Members can sell bonsai and related items through live and silent auctions, with 15% of proceeds going to the club and the remainder paid to the seller. Bonsai and related items are also offered for sale in the conservatory classroom.

Annual shows and sales

Garfield Park Fall Bonsai Show

The club's flagship public event is the Garfield Park Fall Bonsai Show at Garfield Park Conservatory. The calendar lists it as a two-day show and sale:

  • September 5, 10 am – 5 pm
  • September 6, 1 pm – 5 pm

Because it is held inside the conservatory, visitors see bonsai displayed in a lush, planted environment rather than a bare hall — a detail the club highlights in its own event description.

Penrod Arts Fair

IBC also sells bonsai and related items at the Penrod Arts Fair on the grounds of Newfields:

  • September 12, 9 am – 5 pm, Newfields

This is a sale presence at a broader community arts event rather than a club-run exhibition, so expect a retail table rather than a full show.

How to confirm dates and details

Event dates shift year to year, and the club's own listing mixes recurring meetings with one-off entries. Before attending:

  1. Open the IBC calendar on indybonsai.org and find the event you want.
  2. Check whether it is marked members-only (like the September auction) or open to the public.
  3. Note the venue — most meetings and the fall show are at Garfield Park Conservatory, while the Penrod sale is at Newfields.
  4. Follow the "Read more" link on each calendar entry for specifics.

If you are new to bonsai, the club describes itself as welcoming "from newcomers to experienced artists," and its site offers a membership sign-up plus a "Learn about bonsai" entry point alongside the calendar.

Related resources

The club lists corporate sponsors that may be useful for supplies or plants:

  • Bonsai By Fields — bonsaibyfields.com
  • Black Magic Bonsai — via its Facebook page
  • Eagle Creek Bonsai — eaglecreekbonsai.com