Don't miss the Calgary Home and Garden Show Feb 25 to 28

Just in time to kick Calgary out of the winter-blahs.  Even though our winter hasn’t been as blah as some.

The annual Calgary Home and Garden Show hits Stampede Park next weekend and as usual it promises to be educational as well as inspirational.  There will be 650 exhibitors in hand this year, showcasing the latest in home renovation, both interior and exterior, as well as what’s new in landscaping and gardening.  This year they’re bringing in food trucks to add to the food offerings at Stamped Park, ready to feed the 60,000 visitors expected to come through the gate during the four-day show.

This year there will be an entire home on display for people to walk through.  The home, complete with a garage, will offer ideas and inspiration on floorplans and layout and landscaping.

One of the highlights of past years shows was the Ultimate Upcycle Challenge, which returns this year as well.  Local personalities have been given second-hand or discarded items which they have been tasked with turning into garden planters.  Their creations will be auctioned off with proceeds going to Habitat for Humanity, a not-for-profit society which builds homes for people in need.

Who’s Coming?

Guest speakers at this year’s Home and Garden Show include Carson Arthur, a personality on the Home and Garden Network, who will speak about how to garden indoors in small spaces.  Growing food is popular with millennials living in condos who have lots of passion and very little space.  Growing food has gone from a hobby to must-do activity as young Canadians are attempting to lead sustainable lives.

There are approximately 10 million blogs online that deal with gardening-related topics so Arthur believes that anything related to soil is going to be hot fodder for gardening shows on TV in the next few years.

His presentations on Saturday and Sunday will also cover the top places to renovate the outdoor space of your home, as opportunities exist for homeowners to add value to their home in more areas than just the kitchen and bathroom. 

More Guest Speakers

Andre Chevigny of HGTV’s show Timber Kings, lifestyle expert Amanda Forrest and arbourist Michael Alkema will also be on hand at this year’s show.  Plus, local gardening sweetheart Donna Balzer, who has taught everyone how to garden in our bizarre Southern Alberta climate and has written books on everything from earthworms to heirloom tomatoes, will be at the show offering more inspiration on growing food.

Balzer will be flogging her newest book, No Guff Vegetable Gardening.  She says whether you’ve never touched a shovel or you know how far apart to plant carrots from each other, anyone will learn a tip or two from her presentation.  Including fertilizing and recharging garden soil with minerals.

When is it?

The Calgary Home and Garden Show will also have free workshops during the four-day event, with topics like flower arranging, making terrariums and planters.

The show will be in the BMO Centre and the Corral next door at Stampede Park Thursday and Friday from noon to 9:00 pm, Saturday from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm and Sunday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. Admission is $16 for adults and free for kids under 12. If you book your tickets online or if you’re a senior there’s a $3 discount.  Friday is Senior’s Day, with $7 if you come before 5:00 pm.