Huntsville bonsai show returns free with People’s Choice vote in May 2026

The People’s Choice vote gave the Living Art Bonsai Society Annual Show a built-in draw at Bennett Nurseries, turning a bonsai display into something visitors could help shape. The free weekend event ran Saturday, May 16, and Sunday, May 17, at 7002 Memorial Pkwy NW in Huntsville.

The show was listed as an annual display of bonsai trees, with free admission, free parking and an all-ages setup that made it easy for casual visitors to walk in and see finished trees up close. The People’s Choice format added an interactive layer that fit the hobby well: guests could look over the entries, compare design and balance, and vote for the tree that stood out most to them.

Event details also made clear that the show was meant to be more than a viewing line. Attendees could bring a bonsai tree they had been working on and have it reviewed by experienced members, giving newcomers a low-pressure way to get feedback without joining a formal class. That kind of access fits the club’s role in north Alabama, where the Living Art Bonsai Society has continued to serve as the Decatur/Huntsville chapter of the American Bonsai Society.

The club directory lists the group as meeting the third Saturday of each month at 1:00 p.m., with Phil Terry as the contact and livingartbonsaisociety.org as the club website. The annual show also showed the broader local network around the hobby. A forum post from April 27 said the weekend would feature “lots of trees” along with vendors Walking Tree Bonsai and pots by John Cole of Creekwood Bonsai, adding both collectible material and supplies to the mix.

Bennett Nurseries has hosted the Living Art Bonsai Society before, and old nursery posts from 2010 and 2011 showed that the partnership was already established years ago. One 2011 post said members would display mature bonsai and have young bonsai for sale, the same mix of inspiration and entry-level access that made the Huntsville show work so well again this year. The People’s Choice vote kept that formula simple: admire the trees, pick a favorite and let the public decide what style earned the spotlight.