A who’s who of the Highlands will be gathered under one roof next week as the Haliburton Home and Cottage Show returns for its “biggest ever exhibition” June 2 to 4.
Celebrating its 44th anniversary, the event will feature more than 170 vendors at the Haliburton Curling Club and A.J. LaRue Arena. Organizer, Andy Glecoff, is predicting a record-breaking year, with thousands expected to attend.
“People are just chomping at the bit – we’ve never had an early sellout [of vendor spots] like we had this year, we’ve never had this many people reaching out, asking questions about who will be there,” Glecoff said. “This is a chance for businesses to showcase themselves to our community, and for people to come out and see all the amazing things in our County.”
A wide range of exhibitors include those with products and services in home décor; furniture and appliances; docks, decks and hot tubs; heating and cooling; landscaping; construction and renovations; automotive; agriculture; real estate; alternative energy; the arts, and more.
Over a dozen non-profits will have a presence too. The Haliburton Highlands Museum and Rails End Gallery will have booths promoting their summer activities; Haliburton County Master Gardeners will provide horticultural tips and tricks; Abbey Retreat Centre will have information on its free cancer support programs. Haliburton Lions and Rotary service clubs will be attendance, while the Haliburton Highlands Health Services Foundation and Environment Haliburton! will also be represented.
Canadian paralympic curler Mark Ideson is appearing from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 3. The quadriplegic won gold with Team Canada at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games and will be available for photos and to discuss his career.
Complimentary doggie daycare services will be provided by local businesses Tails and Trails and I Love Your Dog, free hearing tests conducted by Hear Canada and Hometown Hearing, while young guests will be able to meet fire mascot Smokey the Bear.
Glecoff said all attendees will have an opportunity to fill in a ballot at the Haliburton Curling Club booth for a chance to win one of three door prizes – a weekend for two at Buttermilk Falls Resort, a patio fire pit supplied by Glecoff’s Family Store, and a paddle and two rental vouchers provided by Algonquin Outfitters.
The show serves as the curling club’s primary annual fundraiser. It supports several endeavours, including the youth curling program, and subsidizing fees for new members.
“In a lot of communities, curling is getting very expensive… it’s a very social sport, we like to make sure anyone who wants to curl in Haliburton, or try it out, has the opportunity to do so,” Glecoff said, noting the club has around 240 members.
The benefits to the community are farreaching too, Glecoff said, with the show traditionally bringing more than 3,000 people to downtown Haliburton.
“These people spend money on meals, gasoline, accommodations and all the other things they need. It’s a huge economic driver for the town,” he said.
Admission is $3 for adults, with children admitted for free. The show opens June 2 from 4 to 9 p.m. and runs June 3 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and June 4 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, visit haliburtonhomeandcottageshow.com.
