After the 2022 Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce Annual Home Show was canceled due to low vendor turnout in 2021, the show is now set to return on April 14 and 15 at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds.
Those interested in attending can do so between noon and 7:30 p.m. on April 14 and 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on April 15. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for seniors and children under the age of 12. Parking is free.
Chamber Executive Director Cynthia Mudge said after 2021 saw only 35 vendors, she decided to take a break from it last year.
“Pre-COVID, all the home shows, the big vendors had their own crews that would go out and do them all,” Mudge said.
Most of those crews were disbanded during the pandemic. Mudge said bigger vendors are now very selective about which shows they go to. Taking a break last year allowed vendors time to attempt to recover from the pandemic.
Currently, 40 vendors have signed up to be in the fairgrounds’ Blue Pavilion.
According to Mudge, the majority of the vendors will be focused on home improvements and remodeling as opposed to gardening, a trend she stated is also happening frequently in other home shows.
Additionally, LeMay Inc. will be on site on April 14 from noon to 3 p.m. providing document shredding services. Up to four boxes of documents per person can be shredded.
Then, on April 15, a LEGO building contest for children will be held. Kids ages 5 through 8 will be competing from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and ages 9 through 12 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Only 16 spaces are available for children in each age group. To register either visit the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce located at 500 NW Chamber of Commerce Way or call the chamber at 360-748-8885 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday.
Prizes will be provided by Stihl as the power tool company makes toy versions of its tools.
“They’re very cool. Adults want them. The kid may win but who knows, dad may keep it,” Mudge said.
LEGO for the contest will be provided by the Lewis County chapter of Olympia Master Builders, and Mudge is considering adding a LEGO set prize for the first place winners in each age group as well.
“We’re just really excited to have it back, this is a long-standing tradition in this county. Fifty-seven years of a home show is pretty amazing,” said Mudge, later adding, “We’re really happy to see enthusiasm for it coming back.”
The Southwest Washington Fairgrounds are located on 1909 S. Gold St.
Learn more about the chamber and the Home Show at https://chamberway.com/.
