This page contains details for the 2026 National Show. The table of contents provides quick links to each of the sections included here.
Schedule of Events
Thursday (8/27)
3:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Registration Available (Sheraton)
7:00 PM – 10:00 PM: Welcome Reception* (Sheraton)
8:30 PM – 11:00 PM: Hospitality Room (Sheraton)
Note: Cold Room / Storage Area Available (Fredrik Meijer Gardens) (more details to come)
Friday (8/28)
8:30 AM – 1:00 PM: Registration Available (Sheraton)
9:30 AM – 4:30 PM: Debrie & Miner Garden Tour meet at SheratonLobby*
2:00 PM – Midnight: Staging Blooms (Fredrik Meijer Gardens)
6:30 PM – 11:00 PM: Hospitality Room (Sheraton)
Saturday (8/29)
4:00 AM – 8:30 AM: Staging Blooms (Fredrik Meijer Gardens)
8:15 AM – 8:45 AM: Clerks Instructions (Fredrik Meijer Gardens – Downstairs)
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM: Judges Instructions (Fredrik Meijer Gardens – Ballroom)
9:00 AM – Noon: Judging (Fredrik Meijer Gardens – Ballroom)
Noon – 1:00 PM: Lunch (Fredrik Meijer Gardens)*
Noon – 5:00 PM: Show is open to the Public
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Slots for Radiant Forms Exhibit & Fredrik Meijer Gardens Tram Tour*
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Insect Presentation (Sheraton)
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Happy Hour (Sheraton)
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Banquet Dinner (Sheraton)*
8:00 PM – 9:00 PM: Award Presentations (Sheraton)
9:00 PM – 11:00 PM: Hospitality Room (Sheraton)
Sunday (8/30)
6:30 AM – 9:00 AM: Breakfast*
8:00 AM – 12:00 PM: ADS Presentations (Sheraton)
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM: Floral Arrangement Presentation – Fun Dahlia Design (Sheraton)
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM: Dahlia Virus Presentation (Sheraton)
2:45 PM – 4:15 PM: Dahlia Crushed Glass Art Class (Sheraton)*
2:45 PM – 4:15 PM: Hybridizing Presentation (Sheraton)
9:00 PM – 11:00 PM: Hospitality Room (Sheraton)
Monday (8/31)
9:30 AM – 4:30 PM: Vigor Cantrell Garden Tour meet at Sheraton Lobby*
* – Indicates registration is required for this event
Tours And Events Information
Debrie & Miner Garden Tour
Join us Friday, August 28th from 9:30 am – 4:30 pm for a bus tour to visit the gardens of Luke & Joni Debrie (WMDS Trustee and owner of Tree House Blooms LLC) and Jeff and Nikki Miner (WMDS President and second-generation grower). We will leave the Sheraton to tour both gardens. We look forward to showing you what works in our climate to help dahlias thrive. These two gardens have two very different soil types and two different methods to support dahlias. Lunch is included with this tour (more details on lunch will be provided closer to show-time).
Joni’s garden sports unique structures designed and built to handle a large number of dahlias. Her garden includes roughly 2,000 plants of named cultivars plus many seedlings in various years of trials. Joni grows a mix of show and cut-flower varieties, with no open-centered cultivars. Joni’s daughter, Madison, also grows dahlias and would love to show you her Mystery corner.
Jeff and Nikki have a gorgeous collection of show dahlias that are well-marked and organized, with hills that leave plenty of space for the plants to spread.
Vigor Cantrell Garden Tour Info
Enjoy the beauty of the Vigor Cantrell Dahlia Garden on Monday, August 31st from 9:30 am – 4:30 pm. Visit Warren Vigor (Vigor fertilizer and former President of the Dahlia Society of Australia) and Rhonda Cantrell’s beautiful garden. This garden is one to remember. Learn how a mate from down under has combined his growing style with one from West Michigan to create this masterpiece. Enjoy the trip with acquaintances, new and old, anticipating what Vigor does to those blooms. Once again, lunch is provided with this tour.
Fredrik Meijer Gardens Tours & Exhibits
Chihuly Special Exhibit
There are three separate Chihuly displays at the garden. The first which is free is comprised of two pieces which are easily viewed on the ceiling of the atrium and café. A second display can be found as you explore the gardens where you will encounter monumental glass sculptures, vibrant Reeds, and stunning site-specific installations. Each work is thoughtfully placed to blend art and nature, creating moments of beauty and surprise throughout the landscape. Admission to the gardens are required to view these displays. The third display is inside the building and is a separately ticketed exhibition called Chihuly: Radiant Forms. This display highlights more than 40 years of creative innovation. Featuring iconic series such as Baskets, Macchia, Seaforms, Putti, Ikebana, Persians, Venetians, Cylinders, and Rotolo, the exhibition also includes original drawings that reveal Chihuly’s artistic process and inspiration. You must purchase a Radiant Forms ticket as part of registration to enjoy this exhibit as it is not included with the entrance fee to the park.
Tram Tours
The tour covers a large area of our 158-acre sculpture park and makes frequent slowdowns so the guests can fully experience the sculpture pieces. The narrator will provide detailed information about the marriage between horticulture and sculpture that we highlight onsite. This is a great opportunity to view the Chihuly displays that are integrated in outdoor spaces.
Dahlia Crushed Glass Art Class
When Sunday August 30th from 2:45 – 4:15 PM at the Sheraton
Spend a relaxed, creative afternoon with other Crafters at Sheraton Grand Rapids Airport Hotel and create a beautiful crushed glass suncatcher you’ll be proud to hang in your home.
No experience is needed. You will be guided step by step — from layering the crushed glass and sealing it with glossy resin. It’s simple, enjoyable, and surprisingly rewarding.
Everything is included. Just show up and enjoy the process. This is an afternoon to slow down, connect, and create something meaningful.
Speakers
Insect Presentation
When Saturday August 29th from 4:00 – 5:00 PM at the Sheraton
About the Session This session will focus on identifying common garden insects, understanding their life cycles, and reviewing effective treatment options alongside sound gardening practices. John Wise, a world-renowned expert in insect management, will discuss a range of approaches including chemical controls, natural solutions, and practical methods for managing infestations, with attention to slugs and cutworms, Japanese beetles, cucumber beetles, thrips, aphids, and mites.
About Our Speaker Dr. John C. Wise is a retired professor from the Michigan State University (MSU) Department of Entomology, and is currently a Specialty Crop Advisor for Nutrien Ag Solutions. His primary research interest during his career at MSU was studying the performance characteristics of reduced-risk insecticides and biopesticides for control of fruit pests. He also investigated plant penetration attributes of pesticides, pesticide environmental fate and arthropod resistance. Wise has developed a wide range of Integrated Pest Management and Good Agriculture Practice straining programs, targeting large commercial farms as well as grower communities. As an international expert, Wise also provides organizational consulting with specialization in system-level problem solving and optimization of pest management programs. Dr. Wise is a member of the Entomological Society of America and serves as Section Editor for both ESA’s Arthropod Management Tests.
Floral Arrangement Presentation – Fun Dahlia Design
When Sunday August 30th from 1:30 – 2:30 PM at the Sheraton
About the Session Join J Schwanke of “Life in Bloom” for an engaging demonstration focused on dahlia flower designs, specifically tailored for our group. This seminar offers something for everyone, whether you are just beginning your journey in flower design or possess advanced skills. Attendees will discover innovative ideas that help build confidence, introduce new techniques, and provide challenges for those seeking to refine their expertise. J Schwanke is not only an exceptional designer, but also a captivating
entertainer who is truly a must-see in the world of Flower Design.
About the Speaker
J Schwanke is the host, creator, and producer of J Schwanke’s Life in Bloom, a flower lifestyle program on Public Education Television , PBS and Create TV Networks across the Nation. He serves as CEO of uBloom.com, the first online community for flower fans that welcomes both professionals and enthusiasts. J also hosts “Behind the Bloom” Podcast Nationally, and is the Executive Director of the Life in Bloom Foundation Inc. that provides funding and distribution- for the “Life in Bloom” Series, “Behind the Bloom” Podcast and the uBloom.com Website and Community.
Dahlia Virus Presentation
When Sunday August 30th from 1:30 – 2:30 PM at the Sheraton
About the Session This session will cover practical steps growers have used to reduce viral infections in their dahlias, including risk-based separation to mitigate viral transmission and cost-saving testing strategies. Attendees will leave with key actions to improve dahlia health.
Dahlia Hybridizing – a focus on specific characteristics
When Sunday August 30th from 2:45 – 4:15 PM at the Sheraton
About the Session This session will explore the art and science of hybridizing for specific characteristics such as size, form, color, and other unique traits. Join an accomplished panel of hybridizers as they share the challenges, surprises, best practices, lessons learned, and exciting successes they have encountered in their pursuit of the next great dahlia. Whether you are an experienced hybridizer or simply curious about the process, this discussion promises valuable insight, lively conversation, and plenty of inspiration.
Meals
Thursday Welcome Reception
The Welcome Reception will be held at the Sheraton. We will be serving: Warm Artichoke Dip, Buffalo Chicken Dip, Beer Cheese and Hummus served with warm bread, tortilla chips and Crudite. We will also have chocolate covered strawberries, mini cheese cake, macarons and mini dessert shooters. A cash bar will be available serving beer and wine.
Saturday Lunch
Saturday Lunch will be held at Fredrik Meijer Gardens. The box lunch options are: Chicken Salad Sandwich, Turkey Sandwich, Authentic UP Pasty, & Vegetarian Michigan Cherry Salad w/ Cherry Maple Vinaigrette. The box lunches also come with a drink and dessert. You will make your selection as a part of your registration.
Saturday Banquet
Our Banquet is being hosted by the Sheraton. We will be having a buffet meal that includes the following meal options: Mixed Green Salad, Warm Rolls and Butter, Chicken Parmesan, Seared Beef Tenderloin, Roasted Fingerling Potatoes, Chef’s Vegetables and dessert. A cash bar will be available throughout the meal. Volunteers will be available to assist with carrying plates to tables. Please note any dietary restrictions when registering so that we can do our best to accommodate.
Sunday Breakfast
Sunday’s breakfast will include: Scrambled Eggs with Shredded Cheese and Salsa on the Side, Bacon, Hashbrowns, Seasonal Fresh Fruit and Berries, Assorted Muffins and Breakfast Breads and French Toast. Served with Assorted Juices, Coffee, Decaffeinated Coffee, and Hot Tea.
Hotel
A block of rooms for the 2026 National Show will be available at the Sheraton Grand Rapids Airport. Book your hotel rooms right now at the special show rate by visiting this registration link: Book your room for the 2026 National Show– or by calling the Marriott Central Reservation number 1-888-236-2427 and reference group code “WMD”. If you require special accommodations such as a handicap accessible room, please contact the hotel directly at 616-957-1770.
The excitement for the show has most of our room block at the Sheraton full! If you plan on staying Saturday night only, there are rooms left at the Sheraton. If you plan on staying more than just Saturday night, please book at one of the back-up hotels that are less than a mile away from the Sheraton.
TownePlace Suites by Marriott
5430 28thSt Court SE Grand Rapids, MI 49546
To make a reservation, please call 888-236-2427 and request the “West Michigan Dahlia Society” block.
Holiday Inn Express North
5405 28thSt Court SE Grand Rapids, MI 49546
To make a reservation, please call 616-265-3333 and request the “DSB” block rate or click on the link here.
Exhibiting Details
Exhibiting Blooms
Please view the Show Schedule to see the most up to date information about exhibiting in the National Show.
Flowers of the Year
Large Flower of the Year: Clearview Jonas
Small Flower of the Year: Baron Aunt Dorothy
Sponsored Varities & Categories
Details about sponsored varieties can be found on our Show Schedule Page
Artistic Design – The Great Lakes State
Details about the Artistic Design section can be found in our Show Schedule
ADS National Show Registration Types
There are four registration levels for the show.
Full Registration Full registration includes the Welcome Reception Thursday at the Sheraton, Lunch at Fredrik Meijer Gardens on Saturday, the Banquet Dinner Saturday night and a welcome bag.
Partial Registration Partial registration includes Lunch at Fredrik Meijer Gardens on Saturday, the Banquet Dinner Saturday night and a welcome bag.
Limited Registration Limited registration includes Lunch at Fredrik Meijer Gardens on Saturday and a welcome bag.
Kids Registration This is for children age 18 or younger attending the show with an adult. Kid’s registration includes Lunch at Fredrik Meijer Gardens on Saturday, the Banquet Dinner Saturday night and a welcome bag.
Banquet Only This registration includes the Saturday Banquet only.