Inland Empire Dahlia Society Annual Dahlia Show
September 12, 2026 • Spokane Interstate Fair
Every September, the Inland Empire Dahlia Society brings hundreds of spectacular dahlias to the Spokane Interstate Fair for our annual Dahlia Show.
Whether you are an experienced exhibitor or have never shown a flower before, we encourage you to participate! The show is a great way to share the dahlias you have grown, learn more about exhibiting, and see some of the finest dahlias grown throughout the Inland Northwest.
Our 2026 show will be held Saturday, September 12, 2026, at the Spokane County Interstate Fair & Expo Center, 404 N. Havana Street, Spokane Valley.
Want to Show Your Dahlias?
You don’t have to be a professional grower to enter the show. There are classes for a wide variety of dahlia types, sizes, colors, arrangements, baskets, seedlings, and more.
Members of the Inland Empire Dahlia Society and other American Dahlia Society-affiliated societies may enter the IEDS competition. There are also classes available for non-members.
Entry forms are due by August 11, 2026.
For the complete list of classes, lots, sizes, classification requirements, prizes, and official Fair rules, please see the Spokane County Interstate Fair Exhibitor’s Guide.
2026 Main Dahlia Show Schedule
Friday, September 11
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. — Main Show Staging
Bring your dahlias to Bay 4 at the Fairgrounds and stage your entries during this time.
The gate closes at 11:00 p.m., and no overnight staging is permitted.
Saturday, September 12
5:00 – 7:30 a.m. — Additional Staging
If you weren’t able to finish staging on Friday night, additional staging time is available Saturday morning.
7:45 a.m. — Judges & Clerks Meeting
8:00 a.m. — Judging Begins
Once judging begins, exhibitors should allow the judges and clerks to do their work without interruption.
What Do I Need to Bring?
The good news is: not much!
The show provides the standard vases and floral foam used for most dahlia entries.
Exhibitors generally need to bring:
- Your dahlias!
- Any personal containers required for classes that specifically call for them
- Any special containers, baskets, or decorative items you want to use for arrangements
- Your creativity!
For most standard cut-flower entries, you do not need to bring your own vase.
Dahlias should be brought fresh, clean, well-hydrated, and in good show condition. Take care when transporting your flowers so that petals, stems, and foliage arrive in the best possible condition.
What Can I Show?
There are classes for much more than just the traditional “three perfect dahlias in a vase.”
Depending on the class schedule, exhibitors can enter individual blooms and groups of blooms in many different dahlia forms and sizes, as well as arrangements, bouquets, baskets, seedlings, and other special classes.
The complete list of classes and lots is extensive, so we recommend using the official Spokane County Interstate Fair Exhibitor’s Guide for the current year’s classification numbers and detailed requirements.
Tip for new exhibitors: Don’t be intimidated by all of the classification information! If you have beautiful dahlias and aren’t sure what to enter, bring them. Experienced IEDS members are happy to help you figure out where your flowers belong.
The Saturday Morning Special
Saturday, September 19, 2026
The Saturday Morning Special (SMS) is a second, smaller dahlia show held at the Fair the following Saturday.
The SMS is open to Inland Empire Dahlia Society members only.
It is designed to be a fun, fast-paced opportunity for members to bring additional flowers to the Fair and participate in a second competition.
Saturday Morning Special Schedule
5:00 – 8:00 a.m. — Staging
Bring and stage your flowers during the Saturday morning staging period.
8:15 a.m. — Judges & Clerks Meeting
8:30 a.m. — Judging Begins
Important: SMS participation requires participation!
The Saturday Morning Special is a little different from the main show. Members who enter the SMS are expected to stay and help with the show. Exhibitors may be asked to:
- Judge or clerk
- Help place flowers after judging
- Help with ribbons and awards
- Help move flowers upstairs
- Assist with cleanup
It’s part of what makes the SMS such a fun IEDS tradition!
The SMS uses its own white entry tags, and the complete SMS rules and classes are listed in the official Fair Exhibitor’s Guide.
New to Dahlia Shows?
Don’t let the terminology scare you!
Dahlia shows have their own classification system, and at first it can seem like a lot to learn. The good news is that you don’t need to know everything before your first show.
If you’re growing dahlias in your garden and have a few flowers that you’re particularly proud of, we’d love to have you enter them.
IEDS members will be available during staging to help new exhibitors with:
- Choosing which flowers to enter
- Identifying dahlia forms and sizes
- Finding the correct class and lot
- Preparing and staging your flowers
- Filling out entry tags
- Understanding how judging works
If you’re unsure, just ask!
Our goal isn’t just to win ribbons, it’s to share the joy of growing dahlias and help more people discover the fun of exhibiting them.
A Few Tips for Great Show Flowers
- Cut flowers when they are well hydrated and in their prime.
- Choose blooms that are clean, fresh, symmetrical, and free of damage.
- Keep foliage on your stems. Entries are required to have at least 1 set of leaves.
- Transport your flowers carefully and keep them in water.
- Bring more flowers than you think you’ll need. You can decide what to enter once you arrive.
- If you have a new or unusual seedling, consider entering it in the appropriate seedling class.
- Ask an experienced exhibitor for help. We’ve all been the new person at a dahlia show!
Come See the Show!
Even if you don’t enter a flower, come see the display!
The IEDS Dahlia Show is one of the highlights of our year, with hundreds of blooms representing an incredible range of colors, sizes, shapes, and forms. You’ll see everything from enormous dinnerplate dahlias to tiny pompons—and everything in between.
We’d love to see you at the Spokane Interstate Fair on September 12!
Questions?
If you have questions about exhibiting, classification, or the show, please contact the Inland Empire Dahlia Society or speak with one of our members during staging.
Bring your dahlias. We’ll help with the rest!
Inland Empire Dahlia Society 