Home and Garden Idea Fair returns to in-person format this weekend

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The Home and Garden Idea Fair, put on by Clark Public Utilities, is ready to make its post-pandemic appearance on Saturday, April 29 and Sunday, April 30 at the Clark County Event Center in Ridgefield.

The event, which will be held in person for the first time since 2019, will feature over 130 vendors, do-it-yourself demonstrations and a local farmer’s market.

“Visitors will definitely recognize this as the same show they have known and loved in recent years,” Dameon Pesanti, with Clark Public Utilities, said. “I think they will be pleasantly surprised by some of the changes and even improvements that we have made to this year’s format.”

This year’s show will include a new, larger location for the plant sale. Pesanti said in previous years, the plant sale portion of the fair was held in a separate building, but this time around, it will be under the same roof as the rest of the vendors.

Some key features at the Home and Garden Idea Fair will include live demonstrations by Clark Public Utilities’ lineman crews, who will showcase their work that helps keep Clark County powered.

Attendees will be able to tour an accessory dwelling unit cottage neighborhood made by Battle Ground’s Wolf Industries. Employees from Clark Public Utilities will also showcase what Pesanti called an electric vehicle (EV) garage.

“We’ll be there to tell people about all the many ways they can save money by switching to an EV and all the benefits that they can achieve by owning one,” Pesanti said.

Pesanti added the idea fair will include a robust utilities area, which will educate visitors on the services and benefits they offer. Customer service representatives will be on hand to answer questions and conservation professionals will teach homeowners how to live more sustainably, which can help lower their utility bills.



Along with the utilities area, a hands-on kids center called “PowerZone Live” will be available. It will feature a Van De Graaf generator so kids can get a hair-raising demonstration of static electricity, according to CPU’s website. Children will also have an opportunity to make their own peat pots with a sunflower seed, along with other youth activities.

Pesanti said some of his favorite exhibitors feature yard art, sculptures and other items. Attendees can view the items for inspiration or buy something to take home. He also noted the event has cool cars and vendors at the farmers market.

Those who decide to purchase plants at the event can pick them up at a plant pickup area located at the backside of the event center at their convenience.

“It would be fantastic if folks brought with them either canned or non-perishable food donations that we can then donate to the Clark County Food Bank,” Pesanti said. “We also have an in-house assistance program called Operation Warm Heart that helps families in financial crisis pay their energy bills. We will be taking donations for that as well. Every single dollar of those donations goes directly to supporting local families in need of assistance.”

Community partners that will be in attendance include the Washington State University Vancouver Extension Program Master Gardeners, Habitat for Humanity and Bike Clark County, which will give away bicycle helmets to kids at the fair while supplies last.

Admission to the idea fair is free, but parking will cost $6.

The idea fair will take place from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 29 and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 30.

The Clark County Event Center is located at 17402 NE Delfel Road in Ridgefield.