For decades, the Haliburton Home and Cottage Show has served as the County’s unofficial kick-off for summer and Andy Glecoff, one of the organizers, said this year’s 45th annual celebration will be the biggest yet.
The show will run for three days, May 31 to June 2, at A.J. LaRue Arena in Haliburton. It will feature a who’s who of the County’s business and service sectors, with 150 vendors registered – including 27 first-time participants.
“This year is going to be an even better show than last year – we’ve been sold out since the end of March. We’re finding this show is growing in popularity, the Haliburton Home and Cottage Show is a desired destination. People want to be here to showcase what they do,” Glecoff said.
Usually seeing anywhere from 2,000 to 3,000 visitors, the Haliburton event is one of the biggest and longest running shows in Central Ontario, Glecoff said.
A wide range of exhibitors include those with products and services in home décor, furniture and appliances, docks, decks, hot tubs, heating and cooling, landscaping, construction and renovations, automotive, agriculture, real estate, alternative energy, and the arts. A selection of non-profits will also be in the house.
This year’s featured guest is artist David Alexander Risk, who will exhibit a selection of original works June 1. Risk is renowned or his wildlife paintings and has works in many public and private collections around the world, including at Buckingham Palace in London, England. He has a studio near Kinmount.
“David is a big get for us – he’s a very talented painter who has a lot of fans here in the County and beyond,” Glecoff said, noting all home show attendees will receive a ballot with a chance to win one of Risk’s original pieces.
To open the show to more visitors, Glecoff said there will be a shuttle service on the Saturday transporting people from the Haliburton Highlands Family Health Team parking lot on Gelert Road to the arena. It will run every 15 minutes.
Also new this year is a speaker series, where local experts will discuss some of the County’s biggest hot-button topics. Woodlands Wildlife Sanctuary will talk about some of the area’s most important native species; the OPP will share safety tips for people looking to get on the water; realtor Brandon Nimigon will educate people on buying and selling real estate in Haliburton County; and Paul MacInnes and representatives from HCMG will promote the benefits of maintaining healthy shorelines along lakes.
And for those wanting to bring a pet along, the popular doggy daycare service will be free for visitors again, Glecoff noted.
The show is a fundraiser for the Haliburton Curling Club, with funds supporting things like the local youth curling program, which has helped produce several up-and-coming stars in the sport such as Jacob Dobson, Liam Little, and Owen Nicholls.
Glecoff said around 150 volunteers come together every year to make the show happen.
“Our three themes are homes, cottages, and recreation,” he added. “This is a great place to come to see everything the Highlands PROUDLY SERVING HALIBURTON COUNTY FOR OVER 70 YEARS THROUGH 4 GENERATIONS has to offer from a business or service perspective. Maybe you’ve been putting off that job at the cottage, that next reno project, and are looking for some advice – there will be people at the show who can help.”
It runs May 31, from 3 to 8 p.m., June 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and June 2 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is $3, with children 12 and under free. For more information, visit haliburtonhomeandcottageshow.com.
