Despite a last, vicious gasp from Old Man Winter, many people braved icy roads and snowy conditions to attend the Simcoe Spring Home and Cottage Show at the Barnfield Point Recreation Centre Saturday.
"Attendance is down, for sure, but we still have lots of people here," said show manager Glenn Wagner, who noted there are 82 booths offering a wide range of services and goods ranging from landscaping, roofing and windows to home decor and fireplaces and just about anything else you can imagine, he said.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the popular show. To mark the impressive milestone, Wagner is asking visitors to make a donation to the Building Hope initiative – an ambitious plan to build a new homeless shelter, assistive housing and affordable housing on Queen Street.
“The Building Hope initiative is near and dear to my heart,” said Wagner, who has spearheaded the effort to develop a replacement for the Lighthouse Shelter. “To me, it’s part of giving back to the community. It was important for me to show that tangibly in some way.”
Wagner hopes people will heed the call. “It would be great if people supported this initiative – it’s another great reason to come out,” he said. Those who make a donation will receive a draw ticket for thousands of dollars worth of door prizes.
And while Wagner, who operates a lawn care company, is the first to admit the weather isn't ideal, he said conditions inside Barnfield Point are. "It's dry and warm and there are all kinds of great local businesses here where you can talk to professionals, get some great ideas for projects around the home and cottage and many are offering a show discount, so you can save some money."
The show continues today until 4 p.m. and will wrap up Sunday with the third day of its weekend run. The show runs from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Sunday.
For a list of exhibitors and more information, visit orilliahomeshow.ca
