Airdrie’s Regional Home & Lifestyle Show is back this weekend to help Airdronians start their spring off right.
The largest annual trade show in Airdrie runs from April 27 to April 28 at Genesis Place.
Close to 200 exhibitors from Airdrie and surrounding areas showcase their products and services during the show hosted by the Airdrie Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Airdrie Chamber of Commerce executive director, Marilyne Aalhus, said it’s a cheap way to stay entertained on the weekend and more importantly, it supports local businesses and community groups.
“It's one of the best places you'll meet your community and really support each other,” Aalhus said.
The show features many new faces from businesses, to community and non-profit groups, and makers and bakers, as the city continues to change.
“We are very much a regional show, meaning that we do have some cool vendors coming in from around the region, like the Canmore Cave [Tours], some really fun things happening,” Aalhus said. “As usual, we encourage our public to come out and really take a full day to get the whole environment, because we do have a lot of fun on stage [with] a lot of fun prizes.”
As with previous iterations of the popular exhibition, the stage will offer attendees the opportunity to see live performers and take part in activities.
New games on stage, like a version of "The Price is Right," will offer the public a chance to win some showbucks and prizes from vendors.
Some of the performers include the local Nose Creek players and Ambition Performing Arts. Airdronians' favourite party animal, Allen the Alpaca, is set to return this year and greet attendees.
The family friendly show offers entertainment for kids and Aalhus said they will also find some fun activities among the vendors.
“iGlitch! gaming [will] have some gaming on site and there will be puppies – people always like to see different animals, so things of that nature,” Aalhus said.
Food trucks will be onsite, plus plenty of exhibitors are in attendance showcasing their food options in the returning Makers and Tasters Market.
The first 100 attendees to arrive early each day get in for free and the first 250 attendees on both days will receive a free swag bag filled with goodies by the show’s sponsors.
After the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered the show in 2020 and 2021, Aalhus said the momentum has picked back up.
“We definitely had a few years of regrowth and this year we are a sold out event,” she said. “So we are definitely taking over Genesis place with a wonderful turnout of exhibitors.”
The show is a massive undertaking and takes much of the year to be organized behind the scenes.
Over 45 years the event has evolved from an agriculture show to the home and lifestyle show it is today.
To learn more information about the upcoming event, including a list of vendors that will be there, visit airdriechamber.ab.ca/ahls-about.
