Inter-City Cactus and Succulent Show and Sale
The Largest C&S Show and Sale in the World!
Inter-City Newsletter
39th Inter-City Show and Sale
August 15-17, 2025 Los Angeles County Arboretum 301 N Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007 Reservations required
Join us for another exciting and successful Inter-City Show and Sale, where both seasoned collectors and new enthusiasts can learn, connect, and expand their collections.
The 39th Inter-City Cactus and Succulent Show and Sale, hosted by the Los Angeles, San Gabriel Valley, and Long Beach cactus clubs, is an unparalleled event for cactus and succulent enthusiasts. Often referred to as the “Comic-Con” of the cactus world, the show features over 1,700 specimen plants from six continents, showcasing the diversity and beauty of these remarkable plants.
The Sales Area will offer thousands of uncommon and specialty plants from vendors nationwide. With two dozen word-class vendors, this is a unique opportunity for collectors to acquire rare plants that require special care in terms of watering, light, and growing conditions.
Education is a key component of the Inter-City Show and Sale. The “Walks and Talks” sessions, led by experts, will cover various topics including potting and repotting your plants, propagation, seed growing, and staging for show.
Kids’ Day: Sunday, August 17 • 10 AM – 2 PM
Bring the whole family to the Inter-City Cactus & Succulent Show and Sale for Kids’ Day, a fun, hands-on celebration of plants, creativity, and discovery.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of the show is the opportunity to meet fellow succulent enthusiasts. Over the years, the show has fostered countless friendships and facilitated the exchange of plant material and information. Attendees can expect to connect with others who share their passion and gain new insights into the world of cacti and succulents.
Our Show and Competition highlight rare, exotic, and mature specimens that you do not find anywhere else. Also, a panel of renowned judges will be on hand to select the best plants for our trophy table..
Entry Tags & Show Schedule
Entry tags and show schedules are available at all club meetings. The schedule is the listing of all the plant categories and rules. If you need either, contact Gunnar Eisel at Gunnar.eisel@gmail.com and we will mail them to you. Tags and the schedules will also be available during the set-up days.
If you are a novice, there will be people there to help with identification and placement. We all start as novices.
Tickets, Attendance, and Parking
Due to the significant increase in parking demand, the Arboretum now requires ADVANCE PURCHASE TICKETS for EVERYONE except vendors, volunteers, and Arboretum members. Volunteers are allowed to enter two hours before their shift to shop and tour the show.
For more information, contact Gunnar Eisel at Gunnar.eisel@gmail.com
Shirts and Artwork
This year’s T-Shirt design is Cochemiea macdougallii by Nelson Hernandez. T-shirts are for sale at all three clubs.
Be sure to wear yours to the show and sale!
Plant Entry and Take-Out Times
Plant entry times are from:
1:00pm to 6:00 pm on Wednesday, August 13th
8:00am to 9:00 pm on Thursday, August 14th
9:00am to 4:00 pm on Friday, August 15th
All plants must be in place before 4:00 pm to allow the start of judging.
Take-out starts at 5:00pm on Sunday August 17th.
All plants must be removed on Sunday evening.
Volunteers! Your Help Needed!
Your help is essential! We need volunteers throughout the entire weekend, beginning with setup on Wednesday morning and ending with teardown on Sunday at 5 PM. Please inform Gunnar Eisel (1-909-908-4145) or Sandy Chase (1-818-367-0864) if you can assist. Volunteer duties include, but are not limited to: setting up the show, arranging tables, organizing categories, managing holding areas, monitoring lines, checking receipts at the back gate, and assisting in the kitchen. EVERYONE is needed to greet the public, answer questions, and keep an eye on the plants.
Saturday Dinner
The Saturday night auction and dinner has been a staple of our show since its inception. It’s a fantastic opportunity to discuss the intricacies of showing and judging while connecting with wonderful people from other clubs and out-of-town guests. The auction is a highlight, featuring spectacular plants from some of the best growers, often at surprisingly affordable prices. Many of these plants go on to be showcased on the trophy table in the future.
Social hour begins at 5:00 pm, followed by dinner at 6:00 pm. The dinner will be a BBQ with generous selection of tri-tip, grilled chicken, chili beans, green salad, garlic bread, BBQ sauce, and pico de gallo.
To make reservations and payments, please contact Margie Wilson at MargieKidsMW@gmail.com
Auction:
Location: Inside Ayers Hall
Our auction follows dinner and is a highlight of spectacular plants (and most surprisingly affordable) from some of the best growers.
These are often the ones that appear on the trophy table in years to come.
Due to the overwhelming number of auction plants, we ask that you let one of the Show hairs know prior to bringing plants.
We have a two-plant per seller limit and must limit the total number of plants to be auctioned.