Welcome to the Plant Sale
Use these tools to help make your entry and shopping experience seamless and enjoyable.
About the Plant Sale
The Friends School Plant Sale is one of the largest of its kind in the U.S. Every year on Mothers Day weekend, 20,000 people and over 250,000 plants descend on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds to raise money for Friends School of Minnesota, a Quaker K-8 school in Saint Paul.
The sale has happened every year since 1990 (with a significantly reduced footprint in 2020, and format changes in 2021). The sale raises over $500,000 each year, all of which helps support a strong financial aid program and keeps tuition affordable for all families.
The sale is almost entirely run by volunteers, plus a dedicated organizing committee that meets year-round to plan the sale.
About our entry process
Our plant sale is incredibly popular — our earliest customer arrival is 12:30 AM! Since 2008, our wristband system has allowed customers to hold their place in line without needing to physically stand in line for multiple hours.
Here's how it works:
- When you arrive at the Plant Sale, proceed directly to the Wristband Booth in the Garden Fair. If you arrive before the Wristband Booth opens, join the back of the line. (If you park in an accessible parking lot, there are dedicated wristband distribution points in each lot.)
- Each person in your group will receive a numbered wristband. Once you get yours, you can sign up for notifications (messaging and data rates may apply) or track your group's estimated entry time.
- You can explore the Garden Fair, including our food vendors, while you wait for your group to be called. Signage at the Information tent and Wristband Booth is periodically updated with which groups are welcome to enter the sale. You can also choose to leave the area entirely and come back later.
- When your group is called, follow the signage down the hill, past Sweet Martha's, and into the Grandstand. Show your wristband to the volunteers at the entrance gate and enjoy the sale!
Some policy notes to help you get and use your wristband smoothly:
- Wristbands are required for everyone age 13 and up. Kids age 12 and under do not need their own wristbands and must be accompanied by an adult.
- Wristbands are valid only for the day they are issued. If you want to shop on multiple days, you'll need to get a wristband each day.
- We cannot give you extra wristbands for members of your group who are parking, arriving later, or otherwise not present. Everyone will get their own wristband when they individually arrive.
- You may enter the Plant Sale at any time between when your group is called and when the sale closes for the day.
- You may re-enter the Plant Sale the same day without getting a new wristband, so long as you keep your wristband on and intact.
- Wristbands are void if removed or tampered with.