The 28th Annual Home, Condo & Outdoor show will be held at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center on Friday, March 9, noon-6 p.m.; Saturday, March 10 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Sunday, March 11, 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

It is put on by Ocean Promotions, which bills the home show as an all-under-one-roof convenience that will display an “exciting array of the latest home improvement products and services.”

Exhibitors will be on hand with merchandise, product demonstrations and interior and exterior displays. Exhibitors will also be showcasing ideas on decorating, remodeling, accessorizing, renovating and even building a home.

Highlights of the Home, Condo & Outdoor Show include the Art & Craft Fair featuring a wide assortment of creative and unique gifts made by artists and crafters. There will also be free drawings, valuable door prizes, free parking and plenty of bargains for attendees.
“Over the last 27 years, we have grown to be the largest home show on the Delmarva peninsula, which is nice because that means we are doing something right because people like the show, vendors like the show and the visitors like the show as well,” Mike Wicklein of Ocean Promotions said. “Every year we get some new exhibitors. It is a great all-under-one-roof convenient way to spend some time saving some money and shopping around for new products and services.”

The home show began because there was a demand from vendors to participate as well as an opportunity to fill in a vacancy on the convention center’s calendar of events to provide an additional event during the off-season.

“After researching other shows throughout the mid-Atlantic, we decided to give it a whirl,” Wicklein said. “It made a lot of people happy. It saved a lot of people money and threw out a lot of new ideas.”

Wicklein adds that the show provides an opportunity for thousands of attendees to meet vendors face-to-face, one-on-one in a personal setting. With at least 200 vendors on sight, attendees will be presented with an assortment of businesses offering the same service to choose which one fits their needs best.

According to Wicklein, a lot of the vendors depend on the show for exposure and take the opportunity to provide bargains and show specials on merchandise and services.

“It truly is all-under-one-roof convenience for the people looking around thinking about improvements,” he said. “There is something for everyone, and there is no pressure to buy anything. It is a very relaxed atmosphere, very comfortable atmosphere, and whether you buy something or not it stimulates your mind and makes you start thinking of things and possibility. The fact is it is just fun to walk around and look at different things.”

On top of the many exhibitors, Cascading Carlos the juggler and Mr. Jim the Puppet Man will be on hand to entertain kids. Kids under the age of 12 get in for free, military enter for free with a military I.D., and all other admissions are just $5.

“I think the sizzle instead of the steak is there is bargains galore and show specials,” Wicklein said. “It is a nice way to spend a couple of hours walking around visiting all the vendors that are shopping for their home, condo, or outdoor.”