Dreaming of a new patio or deck outside? Pining for a sleek stone countertop, open floorplan kitchen, or jacuzzi bathroom with ceramic tile flooring? A new year brings resolutions, and with them the motivation to really get that next new project underway. No surprise, then, that January tends to be when folks in the planning stages of home improvement projects start seriously shopping for the right contractors, to help them turn their remodeling resolutions into reality.
The annual Home and Remodeling Show, returning to the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales on January 26—27, has helped bring many a home improvement project to life, because it provides the right resources, at the right time, to help those beginning-of-the-year projects take shape.
Show organizer Tony D’Eramo of JAAS Productions, says visitors can expect to meet contractors, builders, and more as they explore row upon row of vendors showcasing everything from windows to doors, and flooring to cabinets. Great value has always been at the top of the show’s agenda, and D’Eramo noted that repeat visitors will find more this year, than ever before, including certain specials and discounts only available at the show.
During the four years the Home & Remodeling Show has taken place, its footprint has expanded to fill a bigger venue; this year’s boasts over two-hundred occupied spaces showcasing the products, services, and learning resources a homeowner needs to get a high-quality home remodeling project done right.
A tasteful addition to this year's Home & Remodeling Show: the on-site Food Fest presented by Ralph's Market of Gonzales.
More than just a showcase for individual projects within the home, this event serves as a one-stop shop for more ambitious projects as well—like building a whole house. Martin Construction, a homebuilding business operating in the Baton Rouge area for nineteen years, will host a seminar where folks building their first house can learn the homebuilding process from beginning to end. The seminar will cover vital topics, such as acquiring financing and selecting a builder, and get the conversation started around some of the subjects that first-time builders haven’t considered—like a “Dos and Don’ts” list, and strategies for budgeting personal time during the homebuilding process. Since building a home can be an incredibly time-consuming exercise, with stresses and challenges that can be hard to anticipate, those new to the experience will appreciate the finer points that the company’s years of experience bring to this discussion.
One of the unique perks of this particular event is one that visitors might not expect at a home remodeling showcase: good food! This sort of shopping makes you hungry, so to keep attendees appetites at bay, Ralph’s Market of Gonzales hosts an on-site food fest: a mini-version of the legendary local grocery store, set up for hungry shoppers to sample. Ralph’s lays on a spread of time-honored favorites, plus new dishes to satisfy every taste. “What we do different than most other home shows is that we present a food fest in its own special section,” said D’Eramo. “Ralph’s Market sets up almost like a mock little store, and offers samples of all their food. Everyone that comes to the home show gets to also participate in the food fest, too.”
At the food fest, visitors can expect to try free samples and a wide variety of meats, Ralph’s famous king cakes, dips, coffee, ice cream and more. With more than thirty brands participating, such as Boar’s Head, Tony Chachere’s, Tyson, and Community Coffee, everyone finds something delectable. So visitors can shop for cabinets while also getting a chance to stock the pantry with items from Ralph’s Market. Five-hundred dollars worth of groceries are set to be given away to one lucky shopper during the course of the weekend.
Regular admission to the show is $6, but for those wanting to save all their money for the vendors, there are several ways to get in for less. Admission coupons are online and printed in The Advocate, The Weekly Citizen, and Marketeer. Rather get in for free? Just spend $25 at Ralph’s Market between January 5 and January 26 to take home two free admission tickets to the show.
The Home & Remodeling Show
January 26 & 27, 2019
10 am–5 pm both days
$6; ages 12 and younger free
4H Building Lamar Dixon Expo Center
9039 S St Landry Ave
Gonzales, LA 70737
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