San Diego County Orchid Society Fall Show: Dates, Location, and Admission

Updated

The San Diego County Orchid Society (SDCOS) Fall Show runs Saturday, October 24, from noon to 6 PM, and Sunday, October 25, from 10 AM to 4 PM, in Room 101 and Patio A of the Casa del Prado in Balboa Park. Admission is free. If you want first pick of plants for sale, arrive Saturday at 10 AM, when sales open two hours before the official show start.

Show schedule at a glance

Day Show hours Plant sales Notes
Saturday, October 24 12 PM – 6 PM Opens 10 AM Sales begin 2 hours before show opening
Sunday, October 25 10 AM – 4 PM During show hours —

Admission is free on both days. The show is held in Room 101 and Patio A of the Casa del Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego.

What to expect

The show combines displays of blooming orchids with plant sales. Members are asked to bring their blooming orchids to make the show a success, and the society also recruits volunteers to run the event; volunteers receive redeemable coupons as a thank-you. Non-members are welcome to attend, shop, and get involved.

If you plan to exhibit rather than just visit, note the separate plant check-in windows: Friday, October 23, from 2 PM to 7 PM, or Saturday, October 24, from 8 AM to 9 AM. Exhibitors pre-register plants using the society's registration form (Word file preferred) and use the show schedule to find the correct section and class. These deadlines matter — plants checked in after 9 AM Saturday would miss judging.

Getting there and checking details

The Casa del Prado is in Balboa Park; the society points visitors to a map on its site for the exact location. Before you go, confirm the current dates and hours on sdorchids.com, since the site also lists other events (monthly meetings, a holiday party) that follow different schedules and access rules. For example, the monthly meetings are open to the public, but the December holiday party is members-only — so don't assume every SDCOS event shares the show's open-to-all policy.

Related SDCOS events

  • Monthly meetings: first Tuesday of each month, Room 101, Casa del Prado, Balboa Park; open to the public. A culture class starts at 6:30 PM and the main presentation at 7:30–7:45 PM.
  • Holiday party: Tuesday, December 2, starting at 6 PM; members and one guest per member only, not open to the public.

For show flyers, the schedule PDF, registration forms, and volunteer sign-up, use the links on the SDCOS website.