2024 Frequently Asked Questions

 Entries and Jury Process
  • How do I submit a tree for the show?  Email photos of your tree to 'submissions@pacificbonsaiexpo.org'.  The photos should give the jurors a clear idea of how the tree will look during the exhibit as well as the other display elements where relevant. We encourage you to submit multiple photos. Your tree should be prepared for the show prior to submitting your photos. (e.g. wire it as needed, put it in the show pot and make it as beautiful as possible., surface moss is not required for submission photos.) 
  • When are tree submissions due? The submission period is Feb 1, 2024-April 30th, 2024. 
  • Who are the Jurors that decide what trees are accepted? There are 5 jurors this year representing a diversity of backgrounds in the American bonsai scene.  The jurors are: Bjorn Bjorholm, Todd Schlafer, David DeGroot, Eric Schrader and Michael Hagedorn.  Each juror will be independently presented with an anonymized slate of photos representing the submitted trees. The jurors rank the trees based on the selection criteria that the organizers provide, with the aim of creating a diverse and interesting bonsai exhibit.
  • When will I find out if my tree was accepted?  We anticipate the jury results will be available by June 1, 2024. If you submitted a tree you will receive an email confirming if your tree was accepted, an alternate or not selected. 

Event Ticketing

  • When can I purchase tickets? Ticket sales will be announced soon! 
  • Are tickets transferrable? Yes! Your electronic tickets can be emailed to others as a PDF or sent to an Apple Wallet. Click on the "View Order" button of your confirmation email to use these features.
  • Since PBE is now a non-profit, are event tickets tax deductible? No, normal passes and tickets are not tax deductible. Donations, sponsorships and Friday Gala tickets are all or partly-deductible.
  • Do vendors and exhibitors need to purchase day or weekend passes to attend the Expo?
    No. Vendors and exhibitors will receive vendor and/or exhibitor passes once accepted.  Please see the Vendor page or Exhibitor page for more information.
  • Do volunteers need to purchase day or weekend passes to attend the Expo?

    Volunteer policies will be announced soon and will be similar to 2022. 

  • Do children need a ticket to attend the show? No. Children, age 16 and under do not require a ticket when accompanying an adult with a valid ticket. Unaccompanied children are not allowed. 

Friday Evening Preview

  • What is the Friday Evening Preview? It's the party not to miss! For 2024, the PBE will host a Friday evening preview. The preview will serve as a fundraiser as well as an exclusive nighttime reception with exhibitors, donors and invitees. Attendance will be limited to the first 200 eligible donors. The event will include awarding of prizes to the category winners and "best in show" prize. Light food and beverage will be served. 
  • How Do I get access to the Friday Evening Preview?  To attend the Friday Preview you are either an exhibitor or an eligible donor. 
  • Do Exhibitors need to make an additional donation to attend?
    No, as the stars of the show, each accepted exhibitor can attend the preview.
  • As an Exhibitor can I get a +1 for the Preview? No, exhibitor passes do NOT grant a +1 access to the preview. Your guest can attend by becoming a donor.
  • Can Vendors attend the Preview? Yes, vendors can attend the Friday preview by making a qualifying donation.
  • Do children need to purchase tickets if they wish to attend the Preview?
    Yes.

Venue

  • Where is the 2024 Show? This year the Pacific Bonsai Expo will be held at the historic Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts, near Lake Merritt in Oakland, CA.
  • Is free parking available at the venue?
    No. The on-site lot will require a paid parking pass. Additional parking is available at the adjacent Oakland Museum of California. The venue is in the middle of Oakland and street parking is also available. We encourage you to ride BART or other transit.
  • Will I be able to load purchases into my vehicle without paying for parking? More info to come - we are working on a loading area.
  • Will food be available for purchase at the venue?
    Yes - more details to come. 
  • Can I bike or walk to the venue?  Yes! The venue is easily walkable from the Lake Merritt BART station. It is adjacent to the shore of Lake Merritt.
  • Is photography allowed at the event?
    Yes! We encourage you to take photographs at the event while taking care to be courteous towards other visitors. Tripod photography is discouraged. #PacificBonsaiExpo on social media!
  • Are directions available for the venue?
    Yes, the address is 10 10th street, Oakland, CA. see Plan Your Visit for more details.
  • Is there a designated hotel where I should stay nearby? We have recommended The Hyatt House Emmeryville as the primary hotel. We have a reserved block of rooms for Expo visitors. Please refer to the Plan Your Visit page for more information.

Vendors

  • Is there a list of vendors who will be attending the event?
    We will update the vendor details when more information is available.  If you would like to become a vendor please see the Vendor Page.

Exhibitors

  • What is the submission window for entries? See the Jury/Submission FAQ above and/or the Call For Entries page.
  • How much does it cost to exhibit a tree? Table fees for exhibitors include a weekend pass and Friday preview access, but do not include free parking. 6' tables for most entries are $175, 8'x4' tables for "Extra-Large" entries are $275. 
  • Do I also have to purchase other tickets? If you want parking on-site on Saturday and/or Sunday you will need a parking pass. 
  • When do I need to bring my tree to the venue?
    Early Thursday if possible, 10:00 a.m. Friday at the latest. Trees that arrive later may not be photographed for the show book.
    We're currently working on the exhibitor welcome package and will share all details related to your submission as soon as it's available. 
  • When can I remove my exhibit on Sunday?  Immediately after the show closes at 4pm all exhibitor owned materials can be removed.  Breakdown is 4-9pm - you must have all your materials out before 9pm. 
  • What is my role as a judge for the exhibit? All exhibitors are eligible to participate as judges for the exhibition. Judging will take place at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, October 25, 2024 (the day before the Expo opens). Participating exhibitors will receive a scorecard listing all trees in the exhibition. Exhibitors will adjudicate the exhibition by entering a score for every tree in the exhibition. Incomplete scorecards will not be accepted. The judging sheets will be collected and tallied by the organizers.