Kids may grow like weeds, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t welcome at the Chicago Flower& Garden Show. In fact, the show is one of the only such shows in the country that features activities intended specifically for children.
If you go
Chicago Flower and Garden Show
March 18-26
Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago
“Our goal is to have a mix of both learning and fun,” says show director Tony Abruscato.
The kids’ activity garden is always a highlight. It includes a big play structure that will let them burn off some energy. Kids can also visit the bug zoo and plant their own plant in a biodegradable pot, which is one of the activities offered by the British International School of Chicago.
Budding artists can express their creativity while helping create a communal art project. Adventurous eaters can sample crickets in chocolatey treats.
New to the Flower and Garden Show this year is the butterfly habitat, where kids can even feed monarch butterflies. “Adults will love that just as much as the kids,” says Abruscato.
The Racine Zoo will be bringing in animals every day.
Kids can also join in a floral design class offered on the weekends and dig in the dirt while learning about natural gas safety.
But Abruscato says families should not feel constrained to the kids’ area, noting that little ones will delight in features found throughout the show, including ponds that feature koi and turtles found among the beautiful displays.
