This was my third Hall of Flowers Ventura. I always enjoy the set and setting of this Expo! The Ventura County Fairgrounds have several open-air halls, where the booths and activations are set up, so moving from one to the other is easy. The grounds also include a lawn area, which is staged with outdoor sofas, chairs, and more, giving patrons a chance to relax without leaving the expo. Food trucks, cool music through the audio system keep the day moving.
Community and Connection in California
The day before Hall of Flowers was Media Day, hosted by the Beard Bros, where cannabis media had the opportunity to interview brands and businesses before opening day. Held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Media Day ended with a party where the networking continued. Great food and vibe, the Beard Bros know how to bring people together. I’ve attended several Beard Bro events, and the guys curate a great space to have meaningful conversations. Food, drink and even a bit of retail, provided by Smoke Show and High on Plants.
Hall of Flowers, Day 1
Day one started with the Jews in Weed Bagel Bash hosted by Luna Stower. This was my first Bagel Bash, and what a way to start your day with caffeine, bagels, and, of course, networking! Also included was a Dab Bar hosted by Dan Braunstein of Grassfed.
After the pre-show breakfast, it was a 10 min walk along the beach path to the Fairgrounds for day one Hall of Flowers. Cultivators, brands, and ancillary businesses are there to share their products, show their services, and make the deal. As I walked the halls, observing the crowd, I noticed that instead of big, overly decorated booths and theatrical activations, the atmosphere was more about intention. This is the time to connect and do business. The cannabis industry has faced and currently faces uphill battles, so being intentional and strategic has never been more important.
Tuesday night was a highlight for me. I attended the Blazing Coven of Flowers presented by The Good Witch, Shelley. We know how taxing expos can be, so a chill evening was perfect. Flower was provided by the fabulous Tina Gordon of MoonMade Farms. Located in the Emerald Triangle, Tina’s flower is not to be missed! Beautiful and sun-grown, if you haven’t experienced MoonMade yet, do yourself a favor, and please do! I personally think Tina is one of the most fascinating women I’ve met in the cannabis space.
I got to experience MoonMade flower courtesy of a Storz and Bickel Volcano and Veazy from their activation at this event. Live music, great food, and let me make you green with envy by telling you about the chair massages, courtesy of Blue Sage THC. We were treated to a mini massage using Blue Sage. This cream smells wonderful and provides much-needed relaxation after a long day. This topical is outstanding!
Hall of Flowers, Day 2
Day two of Hall of Flowers is open to the public, not just buyers and sellers who attended day one. Hall of Flowers gave out free tickets to budtenders this year, and what a smart idea. Allowing the customer-facing people to see, smell, taste, and meet the cultivators and processors is something all budtenders should have access to throughout the industry. Another observation of how intentional and strategic this year’s expo was.
The cannabis industry is growing, despite the hurdles, and creating an expo that allows buyers and sellers to do business, while giving cannabis media and the public access, makes for a unique experience, and Hall of Flowers does that.
Until next time, take it easy, but take it.
