Mid Atlantic Bonsai Society hosts 40th Spring Festival

The Mid Atlantic Bonsai Society (MABS) is set to host its 40th Annual Spring Bonsai Festival from April 11 to April 13. The event will take place at the Holiday Inn Grantville-Hershey in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. The festival will open on Friday at 1 p.m. with workshops featuring guest artists. It will also include a large bonsai tree exhibition, professional lectures, and demonstrations. Attendees can visit a vendor area and enjoy professional critiques of bonsai trees. The festival aims to attract both enthusiasts and newcomers. Society President Carl Achhammer Jr. noted that the event shows the growth of bonsai in the U.S. He expressed excitement about returning to the Hershey area, where they expect a strong turnout. This year, the festival’s guest artists are David Easterbrook from Canada, Peter Chan from England, and Mark Fields from the U.S. A special demonstration featuring all three guest artists will take place on Friday night. They will each conduct their own teaching sessions on Saturday and Sunday. Festival attendees can also participate in a raffle for demo materials. A banquet and auction are scheduled for Saturday night. Longtime board member Karen Harkaway shared her enthusiasm for the event, emphasizing the chance to learn from top artists and reconnect with friends. Registration is available online, and attendees can sign up for classes or access the bonsai displays and vendor area for a $25 fee. The MABS includes 12 individual bonsai societies, dedicated to educating the public about bonsai art.