Being Latino was recently invited to take a sneak peek at this year’s Philadelphia International Flower Show . The event was put together by the Greater 
Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corp and was held at the Eventi Hotel in midtown Manhattan. This wasn’t your run-of-the-mill press event and that was quite apparent as one walked down the hallway. We were about to enter Hawaii: The Islands of Aloha.
The sound of waves crashing was the first thing to hit your senses, followed by ducking under palm fronds as you made your way into the room. With a fragrant lei placed around my neck the only thing missing was a mai tai (no such luck, but we were offered refreshments). There were several small-scale exhibits showing rock, shell, and wood formations and a profusion of orchids throughout the room. A large screen television offered scenes of the Hawaiian shoreline and natural wonders as well as a computer generated model of what the Flower Show would actually look like.
Besides palms, bamboo, and an estimated twenty thousand orchids, the Flower Show will also offer Hawaiian music and dance, a surfer’s retreat, a rock garden, and a 25-foot waterfall. One exhibitor is setting up a child’s tropical adventure with entertainment for the little ones. For the adults, there are wine and food tasting stations, as well as special tours and a preview cocktail party.
This year’s Philadelphia International Flower Show, Hawaii: The Islands of Aloha, comes to the Pennsylvania Convention Center from March 4 through 11.
Mahalo
About Eileen Rivera
