BonsaiFEST! returns to Federal Way on Mother’s Day weekend

Enjoy this event at the Pacific Bonsai Museum from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 13 and Sunday, May 14.

By Mirror Staff • March 31, 2023 5:30 am
Visitors at BonsaiFEST! 2022. Photo by Winifred Westergard
Visitors at BonsaiFEST! 2022. Photo by Winifred Westergard

BonsaiFEST! at the Pacific Bonsai Museum returns Mother’s Day weekend from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 13 and Sunday, May 14.

All bonsai fans and bonsai-curious are invited to be both wowed and inspired at Pacific Bonsai Museum’s fourth BonsaiFEST! Hundreds of beautiful bonsai are on display in an enchanting, woodsy setting. BonsaiFEST! weekend, at the height of spring blooms, is a spectacular and refreshing time of year to visit the museum and delight in community.

​Events listed below are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., both Saturday and Sunday unless otherwise noted.

See:

  • Azalea, wisteria, and other lovely flowering bonsai are likely to be at ‘peak bloom.’
  • Opening weekend debut of Pacific Bonsai Museum’s 2023 special exhibition, Avant-garden, showcasing bonsai artists pushing the botanic and artistic boundaries of bonsai like you’ve never seen before.
  • The Puget Sound Bonsai Association (PSBA) Spring Show Aisles of diverse bonsai created by PSBA members. Also returning this year is PSBA’s remarkable mame (“ma-may”) exhibition — a collection of the tiniest bonsai around.

Watch, learn, and share:

  • Live bonsai-making demonstrations — see how the bonsai are created and talk to bonsai artists about their craft; demonstrations will start at 10 am and 1 pm each day and will continue for up to three hours.
  • Docent-led tours of the collection — ask questions and share insights; Tours start at 12 pm and 1 pm and last approximately 45 minutes, both days; Meet at the Conservatory. No prior sign-up is required.
  • Take an independent audio tour of the collection with your smartphone; currently offered in both English and Chinese (Mandarin).

Shop, eat, drink, and play:

  • Buy bonsai and bonsai merch from Robert Cho’s Asia Pacific Gardening and from Pacific Bonsai Museum’s pop-up shop featuring pins, stickers, books, cards, gifts, and more for the nature lover.
  • Fun food and beverages from Yummy Catch and The Village Perk.
  • Art Station for kids and families; free bonsai coloring sheets and easy bonsai learning activities available.
  • Complimentary bespoke poetry writing by Alexandria Manalo; Saturday, May 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Visitation details:

The Pacific Bonsai Museum is located on the campus of the former Weyerhaeuser headquarters at 2515 S. 336th Street, Federal Way. Visitors should enter Weyerhaeuser Road from the West entry from Weyerhaeuser Way South.

Free parking is available across from the museum at the Garden Parking Lot; wheelchair-accessible parking and passenger drop-off/pick-up is available at the museum entrance.

Admission is free. There is a $12 suggested donation for those who are able to support the museum.

The museum is closed every Monday. For more information, the public can call the museum at 253-353-7345 or email info@pacificbonsaimuseum.org.