Gearing up for the Pacific Bonsai Expo

It’s been awhile since the last update about the Pacific Bonsai Expo, so I thought I’d share some notes about where things stand.

For those who haven’t heard about the event, the Pacific Bonsai Expo is a juried exhibit that will feature outstanding bonsai from across the United States. The event will be held this fall on November 12-13 at the Bridge Yard in Oakland, California.

We’re currently inviting anyone who is interested in exhibiting their trees at the Expo to submit photographs for consideration. When the submission period closes on April 30th, the jurors, Bjorn Bjorholm, Ryan Neil, and William N. Valavanis, will determine which submissions will be accepted for display.

The deadline for submission is quickly approaching, so if you’re thinking about submitting, now’s the time. We’ve made the process easy, and if you have any questions about what is required, feel free to reach out to co-host Eric Schrader or me directly.

We’ve also received notes of interest from many vendors – far more than we have space for! We’re behind in reaching out but are aiming to get in touch with more information when the submission period closes. If you expressed interest in vending at the event, expect to hear back from us in May.

On that note, we’ve also heard from many of you who want to volunteer. For that, thank you! We’ll have more information about volunteer opportunities as the date approaches, at which point we’ll let you know what you can do to help.

Juniper at the Bridge Yard

If you’re interested in providing financial support for the event, it’s not too late to sponsor a prize. Prize sponsorships are available for $500-$2000. General donations start at $10. If you have questions about how you can donate to the event, contact Eric or me directly.

Finally, we’re looking for volunteers who can help with event coordination. If you have expertise in any of the following areas and are available for consultations or volunteering ahead of the event, let us know right away!

• Volunteer coordinator (responsible for setting up a system to register and track volunteers)
• Front desk (responsible for establishing a process for greeting guests)
• Security (responsible for setting up a security program for the event)
• Backdrop construction (responsible for designing and/or assembling backdrops at the event)
• Photography (responsible for taking photos of the trees on display for a commemorative album)
• Book design (responsible for book layout for the commemorative album)
• Program/booklet design (layout and design for the event program)
• Legal and Insurance (we’re looking for information to help us identify coverage appropriate for the event)

You can learn more about the event, including instructions for submitting your trees or making donations, at: Pacificbonsaiexpo.com.

News and Updates

The American Bonsai Association Sacramento is hosting their 62nd annual show this weekend at McKinley Park, located at 3330 McKinley Blvd, in Sacramento.

The event runs from 10-4 Saturday and Sunday and features demonstrations both days at 1:30 by Andrew Robson.

In addition to the exhibit, the event features a dozen of your favorite local vendors plus club member sales. I’ll be in the vendor area, so if you come to the show, stop by and say hi!

Learn more about the event at abasbonsai.org.