Annual home show to feature more booths, expanded food court, children's activities

Housing hints are likely from every direction at the 20th annual Home and Patio Show and Parade of Homes set a week from today.

The Mid-Minnesota Builders Association's home show is April 6-8 at the Brainerd Area Civic Center. From tips on new construction to improving existing homes, the three-day event will include free public how-to sessions and informational booths.

Jack Chisholm, salesman at W.W. Thompson Concrete Products, Brainerd, has been involved with the home show for about 15 years. Chisholm, a home show co-chairman, said the event is one of the finest lawn and garden shows in central Minnesota.

Chisholm said a benefit for those who attend is a preview of new products on the market.

"That is probably one of the biggest things they will see," Chisholm said. "They will gain knowledge on what is out there."

This year's show also will include seminars for do-it-yourself project enthusiasts.

"It's very beneficial for the new people who are new homeowners or who are thinking about building," Chisholm said, adding they will get to look at products they are interested in and get a general idea about costs.

In past years, demonstration booths included wallpaper techniques, lawn care, closet organization, shoreline landscaping, treatments for sidewalks, patios and driveways and installation and design of waterfalls and ponds.

The MMBA reports more than 120 companies are expected with more than 230 booths.

Becky Butcher, home show co-chairwoman from Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, said the show has expanded into the Gold Medal Arena for the first time, has an expanded food booth this year and children's activities.

"It's a real different experience than what we've had in the past," Butcher said.

Booths include companies that work with cabinets, hardwoods, fences, decks, heating and cooling, pools and spas, basement water issues, marble and stone, garages, fireplaces, interior design, mortgages, lighting, communications, lumber, docks and boat lifts, as well as siding and windows. Area building inspectors will be on hand.

The show will have booths in the civic center and the adjoining Gold Medal Arena. The MMBA office reported there will be twice as many booths as at previous MMBA home shows. The event includes a child activity center.

In addition, the MMBA Parade of Homes is set for the same days. Twelve homes are on the tour. Entries and directions will be available in the Home and Patio magazine in the April 1 Dispatch and at the MMBA show booth at the civic center. The home tours offer builders a way to market building styles

Construction companies from the area place homes on the tour. All entries are licensed contractors and MMBA members and cover a variety of home price ranges.

The home show is sponsored by Northern National Bank and Crow Wing Power. The Parade of Homes sponsors are Community Sound and Security and Simonson Lumber.

Admission is free, but attendees are asked to bring a non-perishable food item to help stock area food shelves. A playhouse raffle, with playhouse donated by Brainerd United Building Centers, will benefit the MMBA scholarship program.