Spring arrives on cue at Holmes Spring Home & Garden Show

Every spring for the past number of years, Jody Witzky has helped usher in the arrival of spring through the annual Holmes County Spring Home & Garden Show in the Mt. Hope Expo Center.

This past March the show proved to be bigger and better than ever, taking full advantage of the new addition to the expo center, which was filled with hundreds of vendors presenting anything that relates to spring home improvement, landscaping, gardening and more.

Witzky said the new addition allowed him to bump the number of vendors from 205-310, which added great appeal to those visiting and looking for a variety of products.

The connection to the Dean Beachy Building also presented an opportunity for him to add special guest speakers to the venue, something he hadn’t done before.

“With the facility nearly doubling in square feet, our show has been able to grow in ways we always hoped it would,” Witzky said. “Tying in the Beachy Building allowed us to set up a brand-new center stage where we could do things like cooking shows, grilling shows and a whole variety of great speakers. It gives it a feel of a big-city show without all the pressure and hassle of being in a big city. The live entertainment and guest speakers put us on par with all of the bigger shows in Columbus and Cleveland.”

A quartet of Tuscarawas County ladies made their first venture to the spring show, and they weren’t disappointed.

“We all came together for a girls day out, and we’re on the lookout for a lot of great stuff we can purchase and take home,” Heather Dayton of Ragersville said. “It’s been a whole lot of fun.”

She said they were seeing plenty of new ideas and experiencing a lot of quality conversations that were whetting their appetite to get spring into full fling.

The group was looking for something fun to do together and found advertisements for the spring show too inviting to pass up.

Jerome and Barb Duran from Medina rolled into town specifically to investigate any and all roofing possibilities. They found plenty of options, finding themselves engrossed in good conversations with roofing experts who shared their thoughts and provided presentations of their wares.

“This show is terrific,” Jerome Duran said. “It’s a lot bigger than we ever imagined it would be. It’s bigger than most, and it’s tucked away in the heart of Amish Country, which was just one more reason for us to come down and check it out.”

He said the quality of vendors was impressive and compared what they were experiencing to the home & garden show at the IX Center, noting this one seemed much more relaxed and friendly.

“As soon as we walked in, we were like, ‘Wow, this is so much bigger and better than we expected,’” Barb Duran said. “Everything here is so clean, and it’s refreshing to experience such a relaxed atmosphere with so much to see.”

Witzky said that type of experience is exactly what he hopes to present to both visitors and vendors who seek to create a great overall experience that will keep people coming back.

“We’re absolutely thrilled with the way things have gone this year,” Witzky said. “This expo center is attracting all kinds of big events, and we’re honored to be part of the lineup.”

He said what sets this show and this venue apart is the connection to the Amish community, where all the finest hand-crafted furniture and cabinetry is available.

He said he has focused on bringing in only the finest craftsmen and vendors who offer top-quality merchandise.

“People are coming here not only for the vendors and the shopping, but for the wonderful experience of the people here,” Witzky said. “Everyone here is so humble and kind and friendly to you, and nobody is grabbing you off the aisle and trying to high-pressure people into buying something. It’s a relaxed atmosphere, and we’ve been working with the Mullets so long now that it’s like we’re one big, happy family. People almost have to come and walk through the aisles to fully appreciate the quality that is here.”

The huge turnout and relaxed atmosphere proved the show continues to be a major benefit for those seeking to start spring off with a bang.