2012 Garden Showcase
The excitement is building! Click here to see designs featuring landmarks, icons and traditions of Columbus.
Special Guests Are Bringing Tips
- Designer Candice Olson of HGTV’s “Candice Tells All” and “Divine Design” will make her first-ever appearance at the show on Saturday, March 3, at 1 p.m.
- Renovation specialist Marc Bartolomeo of DIY Network’s “Kitchen Impossible,” “HGTV’s Design Star,” and “The Nate Berkus Show” will appear at 3 p.m. on the show’s opening day — Saturday, Feb. 25
Save On Admission
- Advance discount tickets are available till Feb. 24 at the customer-service counter of Central Ohio Kroger locations for $10 (a $2 savings).
Buy a ticket and give back: Nationwide Children’s Hospital will receive a donation of $1.50 from each advance ticket purchased.
- Tuesday, Feb. 28, is Dispatch Subscriber Day at the show, when you can print and use a coupon good for $3 off the regular admission price. The coupon is available through Dispatch Reader Rewards right here.
- Wednesday, Feb. 29, is Senior Day, when guests 55-plus get in to the show for just $9 — that’s $3 off regular admission price.
- Friday, March 2, is AAA Show Your Card and Save Day. Simply show your Ohio AAA Club card at the box office and YOU AND A GUEST can get in to the show for just $9.
Tool Time!
- Visit with hundreds of helpful, knowledgeable exhibitors who can get you started on your next home project
- Learn how to do it yourself at the brand-new Lowe’s DIY Stage with a non-stop lineup of expert demonstrations and classes. It’s just one of three stages at the show, all packed with home-improvement, cooking and gardening demonstrations.
- Relax in the 97.1 FAN Cave, Built & Designed by The Basement Doctor, complete with everything you need for a real “man cave,” like a bar, pub games, TV screens, sports memorabilia and more
- Your garage can be WAY more than just a place to store your car. See how it can reach its potential by stopping by the Ultimate Garage, which will be decked out with tools, a sound system to delight the ears — and a Chevrolet Camaro to delight the eyes.
- Get ideas for your home at the Granite Transformations Kitchen Corner and NARI Remodeling Pavilion
Favorites Return
- Save, save, save with coupon and shopping strategies from Columbus Savvy Shopper Laurie Dixon on Saturday, Feb. 25, at noon and Feb. 29 at 2 p.m.
Also on Feb. 25, you can look on as some of the area’s top flower experts are put through the paces during our floral arranging competition.
- Don’t miss popular Dispatch Food Editor Robin Davis (also of the Dispatch Kitchen segments on 10TV) when she takes the stage on Sunday, Feb. 26, at noon.
- Sunday, Feb. 26, from 2-3:30 p.m. is when you can check out our annual amateur cake-decorating contest, judging and (most importantly) tasting.
- Roam freely during the show: Drop off your jacket or coat at our Closets By Design Coat Check
- Plus, watch out for appearances by NBC4 gardener extraordinaire Tom McNutt; “living statue” Mark Abbati; Dr. Insecta and more
Special Days (And Nights)
- During Dispatch Subscriber Day Feb. 28, we’re continuing our celebration of Columbus’ bicentennial by giving away a $500 Kroger gift card, prizes off our prize wheel, treats and other surprises.
Plus, you can get tips when Dispatch Home & Garden reporter Jim Weiker discusses the latest trends in remodeling from 4-5 p.m. And you can meet Editor Ben Marrison from 6-7 p.m. and ask him anything about the paper.
- Gather the ladies for Girls’ Nite out with Sunny 95 from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, March 1. Full details will be announced soon.
- We’re all about child’s play on Saturday, March 3 — Kids Day at the show. Bring the tykes for a visit from creatures from the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium, activities at the Kids Korner presented by CW Columbus, appearances by Dr. Insecta and his bugs, a demonstration by the Young Chefs Academy, cupcake decorating and more!
Plus, throughout the show’s run, kids can have fun at The Design Center featuring JELD-WEN: Doorway To Your Imagination, which will have a sandbox, sidewalk chalk, tunnels and more