2024 Garden Festival Bench Show

Thank you for your interest in the 2024 Garden Festival Bench Show: Celebrating 115 years of The Edmonton Horticultural Society.

This page outlines the details, classes, and general rules of the show, and how you can participate!

A turkey made out of vegetables for a bench show

Bench Show Details

  • The 2024 Garden Festival and Bench Show will be held at the Blue Quill Community League on August 24th.
  • Entries must be brought to The Bench Show table by 1:30pm on that day
  • Exhibitors, once they give their name and entry at the table, will be given an entry tag to fill out
  • Judging will start at 2:00pm by an accredited Alberta Horticultural Association Judge
  • There will be 4 classes (description and regulations for the classes are outlined below)
  • Each exhibitor is allowed 1 entry in each class
  • Entry registrations must be completed by August 21st (instructions for how to register are outlined below)

Bench Show Registration

To enter one or more of the classes, please email summeroutreach@edmontonhort.com with the following details:

  • Please title the email “Garden Festival Bench Show Entry”
  • First and Last Name
  • Class(es) you are entering
  • Contact Information: Email and/or Cell Number

Bench Show Classes

1. BEST DRESSED VEGETABLE

  • Use your creative liberty to “dress up” any vegetable grown in an outdoor Alberta garden.
  • The vegetable can be painted, have fabric put on, etc… think outside the box!
  • The entry will be judged on craftsmanship and creativity.

2. BIGGEST TOMATO

  • Pick your biggest garden-grown tomato.
  • The tomato can be ripe, unripe, and of any variety as long as it was grown in an Alberta outdoor garden.
  • There can only be 1 tomato, and it must have the stem and calyx still attached.
  • The entry will be judged on width and diameter.

3. BOUQUET OF MIXED FLOWERS

  • Choose a minimum of 3 types of flowers to display in a clear, un-tinted plastic or glass vase.
  • The flowers can be annuals, perennials, pollinators, etc., as long as they were grown in an Alberta outdoor garden
  • The Bouquet must be between 20-30cm tall, and 8-15cm wide.
  • Any Bouquet containing invasive or noxious species (for example, Baby’s Breath) will not be considered.

4. VEGETABLE & FRUIT CREATIONS

  • There are 2 age categories in this class: Ages 11 and under, and, ages 12 – 17.
  • This class is all about creativity! Use your imagination to make a unique creation out of any fruit or vegetable grown in an Alberta outdoor garden.
  • The entry will be judged on creativity and craftsmanship.