'A Beloved Tradition': Coronado Flower Show To Celebrate Spring This Weekend

CORONADO, CA — Coronado's longest running tradition returns this weekend.

The 103rd annual Coronado Flower Show takes place Saturday and Sunday at Spreckels Park. Organized by the Coronado Floral Association, the Coronado Flower Show is the largest tented flower show in the country, according to event organizers.

The Coronado Flower Show has been a spring tradition since 1922.

The main event is divided into five divisions — Horticulture, Design, Special Exhibits, Youth and Botanical Arts. The two-day festival includes landscape displays, a variety of floral competitions, educational lectures and demonstrations, live bandstand entertainment, a beer and wine garden, food and shopping.

Patch interviewed Colby Erickson Freer, president of the Coronado Floral Association, to learn more about this year's event.

Patch: Congrats on the 103rd year of the Coronado Flower Show! How did the show get its start?

Freer: Thank you! The Coronado Flower Show began in 1922 as a small community effort to celebrate spring, floral beauty and civic pride. Over the decades, it has blossomed into something much greater — a beloved tradition that has survived wars, recessions and even a pandemic. It's one of Coronado's deepest roots, and we're proud to continue tending to it.

Patch: The Coronado Flower Show is Coronado's longest-running tradition. How important is the show to the community and its history?

Freer: The Flower Show is more than just an event — it reflects Coronado itself. It brings together generations of families, local organizations, artists, gardeners and neighbors in a shared space of creativity and celebration. It's woven into the rhythm of spring here. People who grew up attending the show now bring their own children and grandchildren — it's that kind of tradition.

Patch: The Coronado Flower Show is the largest tented flower show in the U.S. What else sets it apart from the rest?

Freer: Besides its sheer size and setting, the community-powered magic truly sets it apart. It's 100% volunteer-driven — every bloom, every display and every detail is touched by someone's heart and hands. We've expanded it recently with events like Beyond the Tents, which spreads the celebration throughout the city with floral-inspired menus, shop displays and spa offerings. There's nothing like it.

Patch: How long have you been involved with the Coronado Flower Show? What do you enjoy most about your work?

Freer: I've been involved for over a decade, serving in various roles across the board before stepping into the presidency. What I love most is the mix of creativity and connection. It's about honoring history while innovating for the future. I also love seeing my children experience the show — my daughter dancing in the gazebo and my son racing from tent to tent in awe. It's all full circle.

Patch: What are you most looking forward to this year? Can attendees expect anything new?

Freer: This year's theme is Cirque des Fleurs, a vibrant blend of vintage circus glamour and floral artistry. It's bold, whimsical and unexpected. We've added more immersive experiences, like the Rise & Bloom wellness circle and a new Home Front Walkabout, and our beloved 1922 Club, pop-up soiree in the tents named after our founding year. It is going to be more dazzling than ever and always a sell out! It's a full weekend of wonder and joy for all ages.

Patch: Is there anything else that you would like to add?

Freer: Just how grateful I am — to our board, our volunteers, our community partners, and the city of Coronado. It takes a village to make this event bloom. As president, I see my role as a steward of tradition, but also a cultivator of what's next. If you've never been, come experience it. If you've been every year, you'll still find something new. This show is for everyone — and it only grows more beautiful with your support.

For more information and to see the full event schedule, visit coronadoflowershow.com.