Published: November 15, 2009 10:47 pm         

Annual show at Expo goes for seasonal theme

The fourth annual Home Show is set for Saturday and Sunday.

Janelle Martin, coordinator of the show, said this year’s theme is “Home for the Holidays.” There will be 170 vendors, 120 of them which are home and garden related in the Chisholm Trail Expo Center. The breezeway is holding another 50 gift and craft vendors. Among the vendors are some regulars like SleepZone and More, Garfield Furniture, Progressive Windows and Enid Ford New Holland.

Some of the area wineries also are expected to be at the home show plus Bath Fitters, Sky Mesa and Stormy Points Resorts of Branson, Mo., and two storm shelter companies, Ground Zero Storm Shelters and Flat Safe Tornado Shelters. The storm shelters flash back to the spring show which was struck by a tornado, resulting in serious damage to the Expo and to some vendors.

Martin said moving the show back a month while some storm damage was repaired helped the event by making it into a holiday-themed show.

“The tornado was a horrific thing, but it was a blessing. No one was hurt; it could have been a lot worse,” she said. “It was a huge mess, but we survived it.”

The show on Saturday and Sunday will demonstrate how the community and the Expo center area is rebounding. Many of the same vendors have joined the show again, along with some new vendors, she said. Among the new vendors are an importer, MJK Global Sourcing, which will have nurses scrubs for $12 a set, purses, scarves at discount prices and Nike shoes selling between $30 and $50.

Wallaby Pouch Children’s Toys, Apple Annie’s Gifts and Blissful Bows will have items for babies and toddlers, Martin said.

“I think people will be back this year because they were interrupted last year, and by pushing it back to the holiday season, with the slow economy it will help intrigue people about Christmas shopping. We have one-stop shopping for Christmas and for getting the house ready for the family to come in for the holidays,” Martin said.

Also this year Santa Claus will make an appearance and children will be able to talk to him and give him their Christmas lists. Photographer Mike Hoffman will photograph the event.

Children 10 and younger may enter for a drawing for a milk and cookies party with Santa Claus at their home.

Also in connection with the Home Show, Oklahoma Blood Institute will conduct a blood drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.Saturday.

“It’s a great time to be thinking about donating blood with the holidays coming up. This will be one of the most unique shopping experiences of the holidays in Enid,” Martin said.