UNIVERSITY PARK — The 33rd annual Central Pennsylvania Home and Garden Show, which runs Friday, March 31, through Sunday, April 2, will feature more than 140 participating vendors.
This year’s show will be the 19th to be held at the Bryce Jordan Center.
Abbie Jensen, executive officer at the Builders Association of Central Pennsylvania, notes that the organization will celebrate its 60th anniversary this year. The home and garden show is the group’s most important event.
“Our show is the largest home improvement and product showcase in Central Pennsylvania,” she said. “It gives area residents the opportunity to see, learn about and buy the latest home products and services.”
Jensen expects the attendance at this year’s show to exceed 4,500.
The Builders Association of Central Pennsylvania was founded by five local builders who met in a garage with steaks and whiskey, according to Jensen. The idea grew out of an effort to encourage the spirit of camaraderie.
“Membership in the association provides individual builders and suppliers with a larger voice in dealing with governments on the local, state and federal levels. We encourage everyone in the industry to join,” said Jensen.
The 2017 version of the show will have an entrance fee of $6 with free parking. Charging an admission price is a way of ensuring that those attending are more serious consumers of home products and services.
New this year is a children’s art contest.
“The contest will be organized by the Happy Valley Art District,” said Jensen. “The children will be asked to create a piece of art that explains what home means to them.”
Once again, there will be a Home Show Marketplace where vendors can offer retail goods for sale.
The show will feature the Centre Park, a landscaped area with a gazebo, seating and live music. It will serve as a community gathering place.
“Centre Park adds a nice energy to the show,” said Jensen.
There will also be a bocce ball court as part of the event.
Once the show is over, 1,200 square feet of bricks will be donated and moved to the Sayer’s Dam Veterans Memorial. Local landscaping companies will oversee the installation of the bricks by students from the Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology.
This year’s overall show sponsor is Pennwood Home and Hearth of Pleasant Gap. There will be hourly door prizes donated by show vendors. The grand prize will be a seven-person hot tub from Clearwater Pools of Centre Hall.
If you go
What: 33rd annual Central Pennsylvania Home and Garden Show
When: Friday, March 31, 3 to 8 p.m.; Saturday, April 1, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday, April 2, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Bryce Jordan Center on Penn State’s campus
Details: 140 participating vendors; entrance fee is $6; free parking
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