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Home owners and renters alike are sure to find something to love about this year’s Carolina Home Show. With more than 60 vendors offering the latest in home-related trends and technologies, there is plenty to see and do at this weekend-long event. Mark the calendar for Feb. 22 and 23 and come out and enjoy the day.

“This is our 15th year,” said Natalie Fryer, executive officer at the Home Builders Association of Fayetteville. “Not only will we have all the vendors that people look forward to each year, we are also excited about adding the Healthy Living Expo to this event.”

The show has a reputation for bringing in vendors that offer the latest products and best information about trends in the homebuilding industry and routinely draws visitors from as far away as Raleigh, Wilmington, Pinehurst and Columbia, S.C. The vendors love it, a fact that is proven by the high return rate. “I believe in homebuilders and they believe in the show,” said Kevin Shortridge, chairman of the Carolina Home Show. “I think it brings good publicity to our area, it brings in several visitors to the show and it gives businesses a chance to show what they can do.”

The visitors love it, too, if attendance is any indicator, along with the fact that admission to the event is free. “Usually 3,000 – 4,000 people come through the doors, which is great,” said Shortridge. “Homeownership is the largest investment you will make in your life and people are always looking for the newest technology or ways to make it look better. Landlords tend to look for products that will help keep the value of the home up, people looking to sell usually look for things they can do to add value to the property before they sell it, people who are planning to stay in their homes are often looking to personalize it and make it their own and renters usually gravitate more to garden projects and things like that — and we have things here that will accommodate all of these groups. And then this year we also have the Healthy Living Expo, as well, which is one more thing that people can enjoy while they are here.”

The Carolina Home Show vendors offer the latest innovations and design trends that include cabinetry and countertops, flooring, sunrooms and additions, energy efficiency, heating and A/C, windows and exterior products. Each day also features speakers that offer tips and information about gardening and lawn maintenance.

On Saturday, the Healthy Living Expo, sponsored by Beasley Broadcasting, runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Roger Mercer will speak about Camellia breeding at 11:30 a.m. followed by George Quigley at 12:30 p.m. Quigley is scheduled to speak about low impact lawn maintenance. Don’t miss Charles Allen at 2 p.m. for a talk about ground covers for hard to grow areas. Myra Norton talks about container gardening at 3:30 p.m. and outdoor living design at 5 p.m.

Mercer returns on Sunday at 11 a.m., to discuss tactics for choosing hardy foliage. If you can’t make Quigley’s presentation about low impact lawn maintenance on Saturday, it is offered again at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. Allen presents plants for fencing alternatives at 2p.m. and Quigley closes out the presentations for the event at 3:30 p.m. with smart tree planning tips.

While the Healthy Living Expo is a new addition to the event, Fryer and Shortridge are both excited about it and see it as a bonus for people who come out to the event. “The Carolina Home Show is already a one-stop-shopping kind of event and it just makes sense to build on that and add to it where we can,” said Shortridge.

Whether you are in the market for new products, researching a special project or upgrade, considering what to plant this spring or looking to get out and enjoy something different, you are sure to find something interesting at the Carolina Home Show. Vendors offer give-aways, demonstrations and more. It’s free to get in. The Carolina Home Show is Feb. 22-23 at the Crown and is open Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit www.carolinahomeandgardenshow.com/attendees.html for more information.

Photo: The Carolina Home Show is a great place to check out the latest trends and technology in all things home and gar-den related. The event features more than 60 vendors, exhibits and educational sessions as well as free admission to the Healthy Living Expo.