Falmouth Spring Flower Show 2024

THE FALMOUTH SPRING FLOWER SHOW 2024 TAKES PLACE ON SATURDAY 23 AND SUNDAY 24 MARCH 2024. THIS IS THE SHOW’S 114TH EDITION SO EXPECT BLOOMERS OF ALL THE COLOURS OF THE RAINBOW ON DISPLAY AT PRINCESS PAVILION

Nothing spells the arrival of springtime quite like the blooming of flowers. As soon as those pretty petals arrive, we’re promised longer days as the winter starts to ebb away. For the Cornish, though, nothing marks the arrival of springtime quite like the Falmouth Spring Flower Show 2024. When this event blooms, we know that warmer weather and plenty of colour are on the way.

Falmouth‘s premier flower show is also Cornwall’s oldest, dating back more than 110 years. The event, which is its 114th and is hosted by Falmouth Town Council, is held on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 March 2024. It’s all free to explore and it’s always a bright and beautiful show that takes place overlooking Falmouth Bay in the Princess Pavilion, which is inside the spectacular Gyllyngdune Gardens.

The historic show – which some think is the best flower show in Cornwall 2024 – dates back to 1910 when it was inaugurated by Queen Victoria’s daughter, Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein – better known as Princess Helena. In those early days, the displays were shipped northwards after the show, allowing people in cities like Birmingham to get that earlier taste of spring that Cornwall has always enjoyed. In fact, spring blooms from Falmouth‘s show helped grow the town’s fame and allure in the early 20th century.

Until 1982, the show was run by Falmouth’s Chamber of Commerce but a voluntary committee took over after that. The council stepped in when the committee retired in 2019 in order to keep an event going which is now deeply rooted in the town’s calendar and attracts a thousand-plus visitors every year (except for the COVID years, of course).

Visitors to the show can expect a bunch of different classes on display – more than 100 different classes, in fact, including daffodil categories, children’s classes, camellias, rhododendrons and magnolias. There is no fee for taking part, by the way.

Also expect cacti and orchid classes. One of the great things about the event is that it’s not all pro-grows-on-show. There’s an inclusive emphasis on everyone getting their hands muddy and participating in categories that include children, artists and photographers, as well as professional gardeners.

For amateurs, there are classes where people can learn from the experts or drop in with their favourite plants to get some pro-tips. There are also classes and challenges for kids like creating a traditional miniature garden on a dinner plate or opening up a ‘bug hotel’ made from recycled and foraged materials.

At the best flower show in Cornwall 2024, expect some new blooms. In 2023, a daffodil grower from Falmouth dedicated two new blooms to ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ partners Anton du Beke and Erin Boag. Ron Scamp, who chairs the South West Daffodil Group, named the daffs the ‘Ballroom King’ and ‘Ballroom Queen’.

Ron Scamp and his son, Adrian, have scooped a succession of gold medals for their displays at Royal Horticultural Society and Cornwall shows over the years, and he confirmed in 2023 that ‘you do not need to be a gardener to take part’ in the show as ‘there are classes for pot plants, cacti, orchids, floral art and photography’ too.

Flower show co-ordinator Henrietta Boex said just before the 2023 show that ‘anyone can enter a favourite houseplant, photograph or cut flower arrangement within the guidelines set out in the show schedule available from Falmouth Town Council’. “This is a free weekend event for all the family,” she said.

So, Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 March 2024, why not go along to Falmouth‘s historic public garden and Princess Pavilion for a free colourful weekend event for all? If history is anything to go by, it’s going to be bloomin’ marvellous! For a free show schedule and entry form email springflowershow@falmouthtowncouncil.com.