This weekend in Golden Gate Park, the Dahlia Society of California is putting on its annual Dahlia Show, a free event celebrating the city's official flower. The show runs tomorrow from 10 AM to 5 PM and Sunday from 10 AM to 4 PM at the San Francisco County Fair Building. The hall will be filled with thousands of dahlia blooms in various colors, sizes, and forms, and ribbons will be awarded in several categories, according to the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department's social media post.
The Dahlia Society of California’s Annual Dahlia Show is back on 8/16 & 8/17. It will take place at the Hall of Flowers (1199 9th Avenue) in Golden Gate Park w/ Saturday's show from 10AM-5PM & Sunday's from 10AM-4PM. pic.twitter.com/4SDgmDUOy6
— San Francisco Recreation and Park Department (@RecParkSF) August 15, 2025
With a history dating back to the late 1910s, the flower show is a tradition that includes expert judges evaluating displays from various chapters. Per the SF Examiner, Jenna Kaiser, a member of the Dahlia Society of California, expressed pride in offering a "family-friendly experience" that features a children's activity table and roving ambassadors to help spread horticultural knowledge to visitors.
Attendees have the chance to vote for their favorite blooms in the "people's choice" prize, and a special award will be given to a group of first-time participants. The show's theme this year, "Taste of California," pays homage to the state's diverse environments with arrangements inspired by wineries, citrus groves, and even local gardening equipment, as outlined by the SF Examiner.
Not limited to weekend showcases, the Dahlia Society also holds a spring sale for plants and tubers, monthly meetings, and tours of the Dahlia Dell. Phil Ginsburg, San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department General Manager, told the SF Examiner that the over 700 dahlias in the park are a historic presence, maintained for more than 140 years.
