The Edmonton Fall Home Show is a trimmed-down version of the popular spring home and garden show that draws more than 50,000 people to the Northlands Expo Centre and has been presented in Edmonton for almost 50 years.
Only in its second year, the fall show has a narrower focus that recognizes that Edmonton has four seasons and a couple of those draw us indoors.
Design is the theme of the fall show, running Oct. 21-23, says Alison Farrel, acting show manager.
“Previous to this, there was really no design show in the market,” she says. “The design side is for people updating their looks. We’re trying to pair the seasons with the different trends.”
She explains, though, that the show will present exhibitors who would fit into the spring show as well, so it’s not exclusively about design.
“We still want to be able to offer the services of the regular bricks and mortar companies.”
The fall show, which drew nearly 16,000 visitors in its first year, uses just two of the Expo Centre’s halls. The spring show, which draws 600 exhibitors, as compared to fall show’s 250, uses five halls and runs for four days. Last year’s fall show drew nearly 16,000 visitors.
Alongside the usual vendor booths, home shows look for ways to engage and entertain consumers.
“There are so many different types of consumer shows in Edmonton and in Canada, in general. You have to do something that stands out from the crowd, so we find that when we do something with these interactive features, it not only gets partners in the community involved and sponsors, but you really allow people to get that feeling that there’s something different going on. They’re not just visiting booth after booth,” Farrel says.
The event this year features a cooking stage, sponsored by Tomato Food and Drink magazine and SONiC 102.9. Folks will be paired up in a cook-off with professional chefs in the Tomato Pro-Am.
“Especially going into the fall season, we’re thinking of Christmas and Thanksgiving. The Food Stage will be a popular feature. It certainly was last year,” Farrel says.
The show is also teaming up with Habitat for Humanity to present a unique event where eight local design and fashion writers will restore used pieces of furniture, inspired by fashion items from Southgate Mall. The results will be presented on a runway, and visitors can bid on the furniture. Proceeds will go to Habitat for Humanity.
On the design side, Ask a Designer is back. Professional designers will offer free, 15-minute consultations on a first-come, first-served basis.
The show is also bringing in Todd Talbot, co-host of the popular HGTV show Love It or List It Vancouver.
He’ll offer a behind-the-scenes look at the TV show.
“A lot of people are interested in how that all works,” he says.
And he’ll also talk about how he combined an acting career with an interest in real estate.
His presentation will focus on renovations, especially for people who plan to do most of the work themselves.
“I’ve done a lot of houses, and I’ll share some of the different choices I’ve made and talk a little bit about creativity in the process.
“With any home renovation, whether it’s a bathroom or you’re completely redoing a house, it’s inevitable that you’re going to come across something that’s going to hang you up. So I look at different ways of being creative in the process.”
Talbot says he looks at “the value side as opposed to the trends” in the real estate market.
“Trends come and go, but it’s the fundamentals that I’m most interested in.”
The fall home show also recognizes that seniors are a big part of the home improvement market. On Friday, seniors get in for $5 before 5 p.m., and organizers are offering complimentary coffee and a map at the entrance showing all the exhibitors who offer seniors’ discounts.
The Edmonton Fall Home show runs from noon till 9 p.m. Oct. 21, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 22 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 23.
Tickets are $12 at the door, but just $9 if you buy them online at www.edmontonfallhomeshow.com
Children 12 and under get in free.
