We went to the Flower Show on the last day, Sunday, March 8th, and I'll say this upfront: it's not a slam dunk family outing, but it's not a disaster either. It lands somewhere in the middle, and whether it's worth it for your family depends entirely on what you're walking in expecting.
Here's our real experience.
Our quick reel from the Flower Show
How We Did It (and What We'd Change)
We got there around noon, which in hindsight was a mistake. We started at the Kids Cocoon in the Grand Hall, which seemed smart: let the kids burn off energy doing hands-on stuff first, then hit the exhibits. In practice, we should have done it the other way around.
Kids Cocoon is co-located with the Butterflies Live! exhibit, so you can knock both out in the same area. Charlotte did the butterfly thing a couple years ago when she was younger, but she's developed a slight bug fear since then, so we skipped it this time. Instead she spent about 20 minutes on the Lego "Build A Garden" wall, then a solid 30 minutes decorating a planter, digging through soil, and planting seeds.
Here's the thing though: that planter ended up being the best $0 souvenir of the whole day. Charlotte has been taking care of her plant every single day since we got home, and after just a week it's gotten surprisingly big. Turns out she's more responsible than us. So if nothing else, the Flower Show accidentally taught my six-year-old how to keep something alive. Worth the price of admission? Maybe.
The Exhibits: Start Here First
After Kids Cocoon we headed to the exhibit hall, and Charlotte's first reaction walking in was a genuine "woah." The displays really are spectacular. But by then it was about 1 PM and the place was packed. It was the last day of the show and it felt noticeably more crowded than the last time we went two years ago.
The entry exhibits were the most crowded, and there were a lot of influencers and people setting up photo shoots, which made the whole area feel chaotic. We ended up breezing through faster than I wanted to. Last time we were here, we could actually walk through a couple of the garden installations. This time it was more of a look-and-awe-from-a-distance situation.
The move: We drifted toward the back end of the exhibit hall where the crowds thinned out, and that's where Charlotte actually liked things the most. There was a scene with sheep grazing, and a Japanese modern house that she found way more interesting than the big flashy installations up front. If you go with kids, skip the bottleneck at the entrance and work your way backward first.
Charlotte is 6, and at that age she genuinely appreciates the beauty of it all, the smells are amazing and there's a real sensory experience happening. But I'm fairly confident a toddler or a 3- or 4-year-old is going to want to jump into the exhibits, and that's obviously not happening. The crowds make it harder for little kids to even see the displays. You can tell from our photos how much the adult crowd towers over kid height. It takes away some of the fun for them.
We actually ran into friends there with a 6-year-old and a 4-year-old. By the time we found them, they hadn't even made it to the exhibits yet because the kids were already tired and didn't have much desire to see them. That pretty much tells you everything about pacing with small kids at this event.
The Marketplace
The vendor market is on the lower level and it's massive. There's a mix of genuinely cool artisan shops alongside the expected home remodeling booths trying to get you to sign up for quotes and inspections. Abby found a handmade necklace she loved, so it's worth a browse if you've got the bandwidth.
Here's a tip for the last day: the flower vendors start discounting hard in the final hours. We bought 80 white roses for way less than we'd pay anywhere else. If you're going on closing day, bring a bag and plan to shop the deals.
The Baby Situation
Our baby spent most of his time with Abby doing their own little journey through the show. Changing tables are available, which is good to know. He was genuinely mesmerized by the exhibits, so even for the littlest ones, there's something visually stimulating about the scale of it all. They won't "get it," but they'll stare.
What We Skipped
Butterflies Live! Extra $5/kid, $8/adult. We've done it before and it is really cool. Kids interact with live butterflies using sugar water on a Q-tip. If your kids are into bugs and nature, it's probably the highlight. Charlotte's current bug feelings meant we passed this time.
Bloom Bar Flower crowns for an extra fee. Cute idea, but we passed.
The Honest Parent Math
Add Butterflies Live and you're pushing $180+. Add the marketplace temptations and food, and this is easily a $200+ afternoon. For a flower show.
Is it worth $200? That depends on your kids. If they're old enough to genuinely appreciate the artistry (honestly, probably 8+ is the sweet spot), patient enough to take it all in without needing to run around, and you build in the hands-on stuff like Kids Cocoon, you'll get a solid 2-3 hours out of it. If your kids are toddlers or high-energy runners, this is going to feel like an expensive exercise in stress management.
Pro Tips If You Go Next Year
We did it backward and by the time we got to exhibits it was peak crowd. Hit the displays when the halls are still manageable, and use Kids Cocoon as the palate cleanser when energy dips.
We went on the last Sunday and it was packed. Weekday afternoons are reportedly way more manageable, and the weekday tickets are cheaper ($43/adult, $20/kid).
The front installations have the worst bottlenecks. The back end exhibits were less crowded and honestly more interesting for kids.
If you know someone who has a business in the area near the Convention Center, they can generally secure discounted tickets for friends and family. Worth asking before you pay full price.
Vendors discount significantly in the final hours. We got 80 white roses for a steal.
We brought ours. The exhibit hall entryway is a bit awkward to navigate, and there seems to be only one elevator near the entrance to get up to the show floor, so that can take a little longer. But once you're inside, it's very manageable.
The Convention Center is right at Jefferson Station. Don't deal with Center City parking.
The After-Move: Happy Hour in Chinatown
This is the real pro tip. The Flower Show lets out right next to Chinatown, and if you're going with kids, build in a reward destination nearby.
We went to Yamitsuki for happy hour ramen. We go there occasionally since their happy hour runs weekends too, from 4-6:30. The kids' finger food situation is solid: edamame for $4, fried chicken (karaage) for $5.50, and the draft Sapporo is usually $3-4 so the adults can actually unwind. Sushi is also two rolls for $10.
If you're going on a weekday, I'd recommend Bubble Fish instead. Cocktails and beers are equally affordable ($4-9), and the sweet potato roll and California roll are perfect for kids at about $4 for 4 pieces. Abby and I will usually split some oysters and sushi there. It's a solid way to decompress after a couple hours at the show.
Honestly? Happy hour was the highlight of the day. The kids got food they actually wanted, the adults got drinks, and everyone was happier than they'd been navigating orchid displays for two hours.
The Verdict
Is the Philly Flower Show kid friendly? Sort of.
I asked Charlotte what she thought and she said she "liked it." She loved it when she was 4. That about sums it up: it's a good experience for kids, but not one that blows their minds every time. Honestly, for the price, this is probably an every-two-years thing for us. I had a bit more fun last time, when we went on a weekday and it was less crowded and more interactive. The last day of a sold-out run on a Sunday is a different beast.
It's not designed for kids, but it's made real efforts to include them: Kids Cocoon, Butterflies Live, Family Frolic day (which happens earlier in the run, not the last day like us). The displays are spectacular enough to wow even little ones for a stretch. Charlotte's "woah" walking in was genuine. But it's fundamentally a visual experience. You can smell the flowers, you can soak it all in, but you can't exactly jump into the exhibits. For a 6-year-old, that's fine. For a toddler, that's a tough sell.
“It's a lot like taking kids to the art museum. They may or may not appreciate it, but there's something to be said for making it a big family outing.”
Here's the thing I keep coming back to: it's a lot like taking kids to the art museum. They may or may not appreciate it, but there's something to be said for making it a big family outing. Bring the grandparents, make a day of it, and the experience becomes more about the togetherness than whether your kid fully understands the craft behind a 10-foot orchid installation. Every exhibit is different and you don't know what's going to catch their eye, and maybe that's the lure. But I'd honestly enjoy it more without having to factor in the kids, where I could take my time and really appreciate the work someone put into their craft. With kids, you're always on a timer, and that hampers the experience.
If you're visiting from outside the city, factor in that it's not cheap once you add tickets, food, parking or transit, and whatever impulse buys happen at the marketplace. It's worth it as a special occasion, not a casual afternoon.
The unexpected win? The free planter from Kids Cocoon that's now thriving on our windowsill. Sometimes the best souvenir isn't the one you buy.
Go if: Your kids are 8+, you like flowers, and you pair it with a low-key plan B nearby. Younger kids (5-7) will still have fun with Kids Cocoon and Butterflies Live, but the exhibits alone won't hold them. Even better if you can make it a multi-generational outing with grandparents who'll really appreciate the displays.
Skip if: Your kids are under 3, you're not into spending $150+ minimum, or your crew has a low tolerance for "please don't step on that garden."
Every 2 years? Honestly, probably. Unless you go on a less crowded weekday, in which case it's a noticeably better experience.
Best hack: Weekday tickets, get there by 10. Exhibits first, Kids Cocoon second. Out by 1, ramen in Chinatown by 1:30.
TinyJawns is your guide to doing stuff with kids in Philly, the real version, not the brochure version. Want more honest reviews like this? Subscribe to the newsletter.