32nd Wayne County Home & Garden Show coming to fairgrounds
The 32nd annual Wayne County Home & Garden Show is April 29-30 at the Wayne County Fairgrounds in Wooster. It’s a family-friendly event with free parking and admission, featuring fair-style food vendors, nearly 200 exhibitors, a plant sale, new car displays, children’s activities and more.
The property of the Wayne County Fairgrounds, located at 199 Vanover St. in Wooster, will be transformed into a greenhouse oasis when the 32nd annual Wayne County Home & Garden Show takes place April 29-30.
Grace Howell said the show, hosted by the Wooster Area Chamber of Commerce, is the longest-running and largest event of its kind.
“It’s a collaborative effort between Chamber staff and our outstanding committee of volunteers,” said Howell, chamber events and programming coordinator. “(The show features) an amazing variety of innovative and inspiring home products and services. It is a family-friendly, two-day event with free parking and admission, featuring fair-style food, vendors, nearly 200 exhibitors, a plant sale, new car displays, children’s activities and more.”
With almost 200 vendors, the Wayne County Home & Garden Show is sure to have something for everyone, whether they are looking to completely transform their living arrangements and lawn or just possibly perform a few updates to it this spring.
“Whether you’re looking to protect the exterior of your house, redesign the interior of your home or transform your lawn and garden, this show promises to be your one-stop shop to create the home and garden of your dreams,” Howell said. “In addition to the exhibits, the show also features a plant sale, free children’s activities and traditional fair food concessions.”
A children’s garden featuring crafts and activities for kids of all ages will be set up to keep smaller gardeners entertained. According to Howell, youngsters will be able to participate in a wide variety of fun activities throughout the show, including planting a flower, coloring, crafts and a scavenger hunt with clues that will take them throughout the event to different vendors.
“Once the scavenger hunt is completed, they will be entered to win a grand prize, generously donated by Rural King,” Howell said. “Our goal is to make this event fun for the whole family, so parents can explore the exhibits they may be interested in while the kids also enjoy their time.”
A plant sale will be ongoing during both days of the show and feature seven different vendors — Buchwalter Greenhouse, Ace Hardware, Rural King, Hummingbird Hill Flower Farm, Ohio State College of Food Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Pastured Dreams Produce and Everything Surplus.
“It is a one-stop shop to fill your flower beds and garden with greenery and color and also find a wide variety of steals and deals for your home,” Howell said. “It gives people the opportunity to shop not only for services with the vendors but walk away with plants and products when they’re feeling inspired by the variety of exhibits and opportunities featured at the show.”
And as for food, nobody visiting the Home & Garden Show will need to walk around hungry, as eight of the premiere food vendors known throughout the area — Lerch’s Donuts, Linn Enterprises, Omahoma Bob’s BBQ, Schloneger’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream, Flamingo Jack’s, Walter Concessions, Redmond Concessions and Ott’s Coffee — will provide menus sure to satisfy your every craving.
“It’s a great opportunity to get your fair food fix,” Howell said.
Howell said that without the event’s sponsor, as well as those who volunteer their time to make sure the Home & Garden Show goes off without a flaw, there is no way the show would have made it to its 32nd year.
The Apple Creek Banking Company is the longtime sponsor of this event, Howell said, with its partnership making it possible to continue expanding and improving the layout and offerings at the show each year.
“(Apple Creek Banking Company) provides an ATM at the show so patrons can have cash on hand, which then supports the rest of the vendors throughout the event,” Howell said. “They have a booth and provide great giveaways each year.
“Our home and garden committee is a dedicated group of individuals who donate their time and expertise in making sure the show runs flawlessly. We have plant experts in the plant sale to answer any questions visitors may have, volunteers in the children’s garden to give a fun experience for kids in attendance and a group dedicated to maintaining the event space and working with vendors.”
The Wooster Area Chamber of Commerce is excited for the community to see what this year’s Home & Garden Show has to offer visitors and can’t wait to share the show with everyone in Wayne County.
“We invite the community to join us for the 2023 Wayne County Home & Garden Show,” said Samira Zimmerly, chamber president. “We enjoy providing businesses with the opportunity to showcase their products and services to the public while offering the community this longstanding spring tradition. The event truly offers something for everyone.”
Howell agrees with Zimmerly in believing the show is a great community event that “allows businesses to share their products and services with the public.”
“The show gives vendors a platform over the course of two days to connect with people in a new environment,” Howell said. “It is a longstanding tradition to kick off springtime and helps people who are looking for products and services to help them update their lawns, homes and gardens.”
Admission and parking to the Wayne County Home & Garden Show are free of charge. Hours on Saturday, April 29 are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday, April 30 are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Wayne County Fairgrounds.