Residents who want to meet with home and garden experts and learn about how to ready their homes for spring will have the opportunity to do so this weekend — for free — at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds.
For the second year in a row, the Tri County Home Builders Association is not charging admission for its annual Home and Garden Show, which will take place Friday, Saturday and Sunday.“I’m not positive, but I think we’re the only Home and Garden Show in this area that doesn’t charge admission. ... Parking is free too,” said Karen Davis, Home and Garden Show organizer and secretary of the Tri County Home Builders. “Because of that, we’re hoping for more people this year.
Davis said last year’s event, the first in which the Tri County Home Builders did not charge admission, more than 2,500 people came out. In past years, attendees paid a $2 admission. She said this weekend’s show will run similar to past shows by featuring a wide variety of local businesses — approximately 45 in all — that focus on everything from heating and cooling to electrical to window replacement to chimney sweeping.
In addition, eight landscapers will be on site, as well as a master gardener to answer various gardening questions that may come up.
“Basically any household maintenance service you can think of — landscaping, roofing, drywall — is represented,” Davis said. “The majority of them are all local businesses — we only have a few from outside the area.”
Davis said most of the businesses represented this year have taken part in the show before, but added there’s always a few new businesses that come in as well.
South Central Power is one business that took part in the event last year. Representatives from the company used a live line demonstration unit to teach residents about electrical safety.
The live line unit uses 7,200 volts backfed through a transformer. When set up, three poles are connected with 30 feet of primary wire and transformers are on the poles at either end, with a breaker on the middle pole.
“I think a lot of people enjoyed the live wire demonstration last year,” Davis said.
Davis said this is the 33rd year for the Home and Garden Show. She said she hopes to see people from all over the area come out to the event.