Now in its 35th year, the Central PA Home and Outdoor Living Show comes to the Bryce Jordan Center this weekend, March 15–17. “This year we have more than 100 different vendors to meet every home need from start to finish. We will have financial institutions there for lending, builders, remodelers, tiny home[s], windows, doors, home security and automation, renewable energy, landscape, furniture home services. If it relates to your home, we have you covered,” says Keri O’Shea, executive officer, Builders Association of Central PA, which presents the show along with sponsors Pennwood Home and Hearth and Green Horizon Landscape. New this year are outdoor exhibits, including some that cater to popular trends such as tiny homes. “We will have a tiny home on hand for [visitors] to tour. The tiny home craze has really grown lately and it’s awesome to have a sample here for them to see,” says Don O’Connell of T2B Commercial Interiors and one of the co-chairs of the show. “For the second year in a row, we have removed Centre Park and that has allowed us to have all our vendors at the Founder’s Level and on the arena floor. This consolidation makes the home show much easier to navigate and allows visitors to be sure they see it all. We have also revamped Saturday to offer a Kids Create Zone to give kids a full day of fun.” The Kids Create Zone is sponsored by SPE Federal Credit Union and takes place 10 a.m.–4 p.m. It includes a children’s building contest and activities from local vendors and brands including Lowe’s and the Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology. Registration is required for some children’s activities, so check the show’s website,www.centralpahomeshow.com, if you plan to bring along the youngest DIY-ers in your bunch. Each year, the show offers a grand prize drawing for attendees. “In the past we have given away grills, hot tubs and other things, but this year, we really have something awesome,” O’Connell says. ”A group of our exhibitors and members have put together a DIY Outdoor Makeover package. The lucky winner will get all sorts of products to transform their outdoor living space. If I could, I would enter for it. The best part? If you aren’t a DIY person, I have a good feeling someone in one of the show booths can help.” The DIY Outdoor Makeover giveaway includes pavers, a retaining wall, fire pit, grill, outdoor carpet, rocking chairs, plants and more. Also new this year, activity military and veterans will receive free admission and a t-shirt, courtesy of Redmond’s Complete Comfort. “As I have a son on active duty in the Navy, I can’t thank [Redmond’s Complete Comfort] enough for offering this small thanks to those who served,” O’Connell says. O’Shea notes that the show offers “one-stop shopping for all of your home needs, plus the option to meet with companies face-to-face.” Additionally, she says, “many vendors are offering specials that are only offered during the home show, so if you have been planning on building a home, remodeling, landscaping, etc., now is the time to do it.” Neil Henry, of Green Horizon Landscape, agrees that “the show provides a great way for the customer to 'interview' their contractor” and says Green Horizon looks forward to meeting potential customers and discussing their projects for the year. Jeff Bolze, another co-chair and president of Pennwood Home and Hearth, says that the home show committee begins working on the show’s lineup about eight months out, “trying to make the show informative, as well as following new trends…” With his unique viewpoint as a vendor as well, he finds he’s able to reach a lot of homeowners that may not normally visit the Pennwood Home and Hearth location. “Pennwood always tries to bring [the] newest products every year to the show and then we work them into our showroom displays in the months following the show. This year we will be showing a new DaVinci, 60-inch, three-sided gas fireplace with a full range of LED lights and a very clean look. These fireplaces can be custom-made to fit any room size. “We also just received a Twin Eagles wood pellet smoker that already has pre-programed cooking times and temperatures for your favorite meals; you can just put your prepared food on the grill and [it] does the rest for you. You can receive the status of your food through the the Twin Eagles WiFi app and the three temperature probes…” Not a homeowner? According to O’Shea, the show still gives you an “opportunity to get ideas and services for their current living arrangements, regardless of whether [you] own a home or not.” Show hours are 3-8 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $6 for adults and free for children 12 and under, as well as veterans and active military. Get $1 off admission using the printable couponhere.