Although today’s housing market is complicated, finding ideas and solutions for home improvement is about to get easier. The 2008 Central Florida Home & Garden Show, returning March 7-9 to Hall North B in the Orange County Convention Center’s North/South complex off Universal Boulevard, boasts the area’s largest selection of the latest products and services for virtually every area of the home, indoors and out, all under one roof.
Plus, workshops and seminars to help Central Floridians focus on the home improvement projects that make sense now and the ones that will pay dividends in the long run.
Guests will find inspiration from these celebrities and show highlights:
- Angelo Surmelis, host of HGTV’s “24 Hour Design,” shares practical and inexpensive design tips to update your living space and takes the fear out of do-it-yourself decorating. He appears on Friday through Sunday to meet with guests, answer questions and sign autographs.
- Chef Rock, recent winner of Fox’s reality cooking show,“Hell’s Kitchen,” whips up specialties and offers culinary tips and tasty samples throughout the weekend on the Cooking Stage.
- Mad Dog & Merrill, a couple of crazy dudes on a mission to make everyone a better griller, appear all three days. Guests will learn tips on the “Slow Food Movement” and other ways to “green up” their grilling habits.
- Jeff Zbar, the ChiefHomeOfficer.com. Over three days, learn how to set up and furnish your home office like a home-business pro. Discover what makes a home office professional — and a place you’ll enjoy commuting to Monday morning.
- Confused about what “going green” really means? Make sense of eco-friendly living and learn how to make a difference. This and dozens of other topics, from the front door to the backyard, will be presented by experts throughout the weekend on the Go Green Ask the Experts Stage.
- Guests can stroll through more than 6,000 square feet of spectacular gardens designed by six local landscaping companies.
- Browse the Children’s Art Gallery and take home an original work of art by children served by the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida.
- It’s baaaack: the giant sales display of beautiful orchids and tropical plants. Participants include members of the Orchid Society.
- Live radio broadcasts and meet-andgreet/ autograph opportunities with the hosts of local home and gardening radio shows.
- More than 500 exhibits with the industry’s latest products and a kids’ play space featuring face-painting.
- Giveaways, contests and much more. Show hours are 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday.
Tickets are available at the door, and are $9 for adults, $5 for children ages 6-12, and free for children 5 and under. Seniors (60 and over) are $5 on Friday only. Guests can gain admission for only $5 after 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Advance tickets can be purchased online for a $2 discount at www.FloridaHomeShows.com Convenient on-site parking is available adjacent to the Orange County Convention Center off Universal Boulevard, and is $6 per car.
For more information, visit www.FloridaHomeShows.com, or call 800-645-7798, ext. 12.
