MID ATLANTIC BONSAI SOCIETY ANNOUNCES SPRING FESTIVAL
On March 31st to April 2nd 2023, the Mid Atlantic Bonsai Society (MABS) will hold its 38th Annual Spring Bonsai Festival at the Hampton Inn, Parsippany NJ The Festival begins Friday March 31st at 1pm with 3 workshops with the guest artists. The festival continues through Sunday April 2nd at noon. The Festival includes professional bonsai lectures, demonstrations, workshops, a large vending area and professional critiques of bonsai. The festival attracts bonsai enthusiasts and newcomers with a large bonsai display by the MABS club members and world renowned guest artists from the US and over sea stage. Registrants have weekend-long opportunities to observe and spend time with the artists up close at breakout sessions between demonstrations and to view the bonsai exhibit.
According to President Diego Pablos, “Each year’s festival shows the growth of bonsai exponentially in the USA. The member’s trees get more beautiful each year as bonsai education grows and our vision is enhanced.” Pablos says “We are happy to have the event back in the New Jersey area again as we always have a great turn out from the participating clubs and general public for the festival.” The show is held in different states due to its revolving venue to accommodate all the clubs. This year MABS will have 3 guest artists, Todd Schlafer from the USA, Hugo Zamora Luna from Mexico and Will Baddeley from England. These great artists will inspire and teach bonsai enthusiasts at all levels. A special 3 person demo on Friday night will feature all the guest artists on the same stage working similar material. On Saturday and Sunday they will have separate teaching demos during the festival. Demo material will be raffled off for a small ticket fee and there is a banquet you may attend with a large auction Saturday night. Longtime Susquehanna Bonsai Club member and newly elected MABS board member Carl Achhammer raves about this educational opportunity: “The festival gives me a great opportunity to enhance my bonsai skills while I watch the best artists in the world. I learn so much watching the demos and viewing the display trees. It’s also great to see old friends and make new ones as we share our knowledge and enjoyment of the art.”
Registration is online at www.midatlanticbonsai.org. Registrants can sign up for individual classes, presentations throughout the day and the banquet. The general public can attend the bonsai displays and vendor’s area for a small walk in $20 fee. Directions and other accommodations can be found on the website.
The Mid Atlantic Bonsai Society is the organization of twelve individual bonsai societies located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The purpose of both the individual societies and the overall organization is to educate the public about the art of bonsai. For MABS, this is accomplished primarily through this annual regional festival. Please use this link to explore clubs near you www.midatlanticbonsai.org/clubs.htm We look forward to seeing you at the festival.