This weekend William and Mary Hall will be transformed into a veritable one-stop shop for homeowners to see the latest trends in home improvement from remodeling and landscaping to decorating and building.
The Williamsburg Home Show comes to town Saturday-Sunday. The event is focused on providing area residents with a chance to get information about the newest home-related products, meet professionals and participate in interactive demonstrations on educational and entertaining topics.
Chris Grubbs, owner of Show Managers LLC, has been presenting similar events in Richmond and other markets for the past 20 years. He said he would often meet people from Williamsburg who would travel to shows well outside our area. That’s why he is particularly enthusiastic about this weekend.
“I have been looking at bringing the show to Williamsburg for many years,” Grubbs said in a recent interview. “I wanted to provide the community with their own event, so they didn’t have to travel. It will focus on businesses in the area, and people will have the chance to support their local companies. It allows the contractors to talk to clients face-to-face.”
He selected William and Mary Hall as the venue, citing it as the only one big enough to host nearly 100 vendor booths.
“Plus we will have companies displaying outside in the parking lot,” Grubbs added. “This show will focus on the home, inside and out — bathrooms, kitchens, flooring window treatments, heating and air conditioning, swimming pools, closets, outdoor furniture — you name it, we have it.”
In addition to the exhibitors, the event will incorporate special features including a “Green Thumb Theater.” Area experts will speak on topics ranging from rain gardens to pruning.
Landscape designer Peggy Krapf of Heart’s Ease Landscape & Garden Design will speak on “Adding Personality to Your Yard with Garden Accessories.”
“As a landscape designer, the first thing people think of is plants,” Krapf said in a recent interview. “But as a designer, I like it when people use interesting accessories like furniture, bird houses and sculpture. Those types of things can add a lot to a yard and a landscape.”
Krapf will speak at noon Saturday. She will include photos of some imaginative ways to define the outdoor landscape.
“It is the decorative element that can make a plain yard have pizazz,” Krapf said. “It is not hard to do, you just have to have the idea to do it.”
On Sunday at 11 a.m., James City County/Williamsburg Master Gardeners Barb Landa and Annette Bell will present “Prune It!” The talk will give homeowners tips on pruning shrubs and small trees.
“I think a big thing on peoples minds will be winter burn,” Landa said. “There is going to be a lot of winter damage this year, so we will talk about what to do with it and how to tackle the problem.”
Landa is enthusiastic about the ability of the show to reach a lot of people. “The availability of so many different businesses in one venue is really like a shopping spree over the course of the weekend,” Landa said.
Grubbs said he hopes the event will continue well into the future. “Hopefully we will have the 30th anniversary of the show at some point,” he said with a laugh. “I am hoping never to leave the Williamsburg market. This is the most positive and receptive market I have ever launched an event in. It has been a fabulous process.”
Want to go? The Williamsburg Home Show will be presented 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, March 28 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, March 29. Tickets are $10, $5 with online coupon. Visit www.williamsburghomeshow.com.
