The region’s largest home and garden show returns this weekend with the annual exhibitions of contractors for any home project, returning popular features like Centre Park and new additions for this year.
The 32nd Annual Central PA Home and Garden Show kicks off at 3 p.m. Friday in the Bryce Jordan Center. This year, 138 vendors will be on hand for the three-day event, up from 117 in 2015. Last year, 4,800 people visited the show.
New for this year is the Home Show Marketplace where visitors can purchase quality home good products. The Creative Pallet contest is another new addition, with people building furniture for their homes using wood from one pallet and up to $20 of extra materials.
‘Visitors can expect to find quality contractors for any job, as always,’ said Abbie Jensen, executive officer for the Central PA Builders Association. ‘We’re continuing to expand the show each year.’
One of those recent expansions is Centre Park, a landscaped area in the middle of the arena that in the past has included live musicians, flowers, a gazebo, deck, rock walls and waterfalls. That debuted in 2014 and was so popular it was brought back last year and again this year.
Another recent addition is the Patio for a Patriot, now in its third year of offering a free patio to a local military veteran through a partnership between the Builders Association and EP Henry hardscaping. A number of local businesses and organizations also contribute to the effort. In 2014 a patio was installed for the State College American Legion, and last year for Army veteran Corey Mills of Tyrone.
Through a nomination process, this year’s patio will go to retired Army Sgt. Vincent Reynolds of State College, who lost part of his leg when an IED exploded near him while he was deployed in Afghanistan.
‘This year we received 74 nominations total — it was a daunting task for the committee to review each one,’ Jensen said. ‘This year our winning veteran is Vincent Reynolds of State College. Vinny did two tours in service of our country … we cannot wait to install his custom patio.’
The show features nearly a dozen seminars throughout the weekend, on everything from how to achieve a zero energy home to choosing the right flooring to upgrading heating and cooling systems.
A children’s building contest, for which registration has closed, will be held on Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. with kids ages 4-12 compete in three age groups.
And of course it’s an opportunity for consumers to find area professionals who can help them with their home and garden projects.
‘Consumers benefit from having all these qualified folks under one roof, but it also works the other way around,’ Jensen said. ‘The exhibitors are able to help consumers create a true network of professionals who will care for their homes. We see a lot of repeat traffic at the show, and people will walk through holding a guide from several years ago. The Home and Garden Show allows consumers and builders to start a relationship that will hopefully last.’
Admission to the Home and Garden Show is $6 and free for children 12 and under. Hours for the show are:
Friday 3-8 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
