Last year, the event sold out the town of Ventura with 100% hotel rooms booked in downtown Ventura and surrounding area. This year’s show has over 325 brands and 1,100+ retailers confirmed to attend with a solid mix of established well-known brands and new up-and-comers.
Despite the California cannabis industry’s rough couple years, the business of pot continues and Hall of Flowers is still the best place to find your next business opportunities. Observing the show provides a clear temperature gauge of what’s happening in the industry. I’m always curious to see who’s exhibiting and how they show up.
Some shows in the recent past felt less abundant than the early days. Signaling the decline of the good ol’ days and a premonition of tough times to come. But creativity reigns and the recent September 2024 Hall of Flowers Festival opened its doors to the public for the first time ever, attracting over 6,000 attendees for open consumption and sales. A sign of hope and jolt of momentum for cannabis culture.
I’m excited to see what this season’s Hall of Flowers will bring after winter hibernation. A few tips and words of advice for those attending their first Hall of Flowers, and food for thought for the industry OGs. Welcome, let’s roll up a joint.
Cannabis Industry Only
Hall of Flowers Ventura on March 19-20, 2025 is an invite-only, highly curated buyer’s show for the movers and shakers of the industry to make priceless connections, strike deals, discover new products and trends, reconnect with old friends, and meet new brands.
It’s the kind of show where business is done while walking through the exhibition floor, passing a joint on the grassy lawn and consumption lounge, and IYKYK official and unofficial after-parties.
Brands and exhibitors turn up with creative booth activations, art exhibitions, new product drops, jars of fresh cured flower, big announcements, celebrity appearances, and ancillary activities designed to draw in buyers and decision makers. Plus, food trucks, the legendary Iconoclast speaker series featuring Beard Bro’s own Bill Levers, Autumn Shelton of Autumn Brands, Neema Samari of Cannabiotix, and Corvain Cooper of 40 Tons.
There’s moments where it feels unreal, like you’ve died and gone to California stoner paradise. Where else can you sample ALL the weed, share a joint and converse with industry legends, and dip your toes into the Pacific Ocean while watching the sunset on the same day?
Admission is restricted to cannabis industry professionals and media only. Day 1 is buyer’s only. Day 2 welcomes industry professionals. Early Bird Industry Tickets are still available for $595, and Day 2 Only Tickets are $395. Reserve your ticket, proper credentials required.
What’s new at Hall of Flowers Ventura?
AXIS Club application-based ticket for $995 that offers a private lounge experience with expedited entry and lounge access for you and up to three guests. There’s dedicated workspaces with complimentary drinks and snacks.
Go ahead and splurge if you can, but if you’re business-ing’ on a budget we all know the best spot is while smoking a j on the grassy lawn or on the rickety ferris wheel.
Curious to see this new addition: BLUEPRINT a section showcasing new technology and innovations, and a curated group of operators, manufacturers and distribution companies outside of California to connect with brands in the California market.
Official VIP afterparties for brands and buyers are now called Night Meetings, according to a teaser shared by Hall of Flowers co-founder Rama Mayo.
How does one get an invitation to the exclusive Buyer’s Dinner with Chef Chris Bianco for 150+ of the industry’s most sought-after buyers with the James Beard award-winning pizza chef? Asking for a friend.
Words of Advice for First-Timers
You’re gonna have a great time. Try not to overschedule yourself. Sensory overload is highly likely. It’s a big show that can feel overwhelming with the number of booths, brands, and activations.
- Wear layers and comfy shoes. Bring sunglasses.
- Bring a reusable water bottle. Drink lots of water.
- Don’t forget to eat. Pack snacks.
- Your phone battery will die. Bring a charging brick and cord.
- BYO consumption accessories, e.g. grinder, papers, rig, etc.
- Be responsible with your consumption.
- Go to the after-parties, but don’t feel obligated to stay late.
- Mitigate body pain and achy feet by taking a CBG-rich edible, tablet or tincture early in the day.
Food for Thought for Industry OGs
If you’ve attended a Hall of Flowers, you’ll likely agree that the best part of the show is seeing old friends and making new ones. At best, it feels like the best kind of family reunion – with a whole lot of weed. There have been plenty of questionable missteps as well as epic celebratory moments. This is an industry built on trust and shows like Hall of Flowers is where those relationships are cultivated.
If you’ve walked the exhibition floor and networked until your voice has gone hoarse, what advice do you have for Hall of Flowers first-timers? And please consider this food for thought:
High THC and low prices are dooming our industry to fail. This needs to change. You are the ones shaping and curating the future of weed. What we do here sets an example for the rest of the world. Make choices that preserve the natural beauty and magic of this plant.
On exclusivity. The private lounges, after parties, and invite-only dinners are great and all, but don’t fly so high on the hog that we forget accessibility and inclusivity. If you are fortunate enough to have access, take a moment to thoughtfully invite someone new, who doesn’t look like you. Give someone else an opportunity to be in the room and genuinely listen to what they have to say. You might be surprised.
Don’t forget our roots. We stand here on the shoulders of medical cannabis advocates who fought for legalization. Don’t forget about SB34 and cannabis’ legacy to heal and help people in need. Low-income medical patients need cannabis more than ever right now. Pay it forward and donate your tax-free abundance to local compassionate care programs. The ghosts of Denis Peron and Brownie Mary are watching.
Getting There
Plane: Santa Barbara or LAX are the two nearest airports. 40 minute drive from Santa Barbara to Ventura. 1 hour and 30 minute drive from LAX to Ventura.
Train: Ventura– Downtown/Beach Amtrak station is right in front of the fairgrounds. 2 hour trip from Los Angeles Union Station starting at $26.
Car: Parking available. Anticipate traffic congestion as you enter the Main Lot.
Lodging: Hotel rooms in nearby downtown Ventura are still available. The Crowne Plaza closest to the Ventura County Fairgrounds is booked.
Christina Wong is a cannabis food, drink and travel writer, culinary artist, and creative producer in Los Angeles, California. She’s the Founder & CEO of Fruit + Flower Co.; writes Fruit + Flower Unfurled, a weekly newsletter for culinary cannabis enthusiasts; co-host of Mogu Magu, an AAPI culture, food, and cannabis collective; and Budist edible critic. Her work has been featured in High Times, Cherry Bombe, CannaCurious, and Kitchen Toke magazines.
