OCEAN CITY – A new event debuts in Ocean City this weekend, as the Autumn Home and Condo Show will exhibit practically every service one could ever need for the home, plus much more.
Mike Wicklein of Ocean Promotions is behind the spring Home, Condo, and Garden Show plus several other annual events in Ocean City.
“With our 27 years’ spring experience, we decided to take a shot at autumn and see how that works,” Wicklein said last Friday. “We are getting a good response from our vendors and we will see [this] weekend what kind of reception we get from our visitors and customers.”
The first-ever Autumn Home and Condo Show will be held in the Roland E. Powell Convention Center this weekend, Oct. 28-30.
“There seemed to be some demand out there not only from visitors and guests but also from vendors,” Wicklein said. “They [vendors] put their best foot forward at this show and they try their best to give good bargains to shoppers.”
The event is designed for homeowners in all stages of remodeling, landscaping and decorating. Exhibitors will be on hand with merchandise, product demonstrations and interior and exterior displays. With a combination of new products and advice from the pros, the home show inspires homeowners with ideas on enhancing their home’s comfort and functionality, as well as aesthetic appeal and overall value.
There have already been over 100 vendor booths sold for the event.
“You name it you will find it at the home show,” Wicklein said. “We like to think of it as an all under one roof experience. It’s very visitor friendly. There’s no pressure. Stroll through at your leisure.”
He added that there is quite a few vendors promoting and selling sustainable energy features.
“People that are energy conscience and people that will save you money and give you new ideas as far as going green,” Wicklein said.
Gateway Subaru dealership located in Delmar is one the Autumn Home and Condo show’s major sponsors and will have new models of cars on display.
“There will also be an Art and Craft Fair provided offering a wide assortment of creative and unique gifts and accessories made by artists and quality crafts people,” Wicklein said.
Another main feature will be the event’s 55-foot inflatable SEI whale exhibit provided by the Maryland Coastal Bays Program and Ocean City Surfriders so children can go through a “whale walk”. The whale will be transported from the National Aquarium in Baltimore.
“It is going to be open for the kids to walk through so they get a good idea of the real size of a real whale,” Wicklein said.
Other event highlights include free drawings, the health craft cooking show and valuable door prizes.
Tickets are $5 for seniors and adults, free for children under 12 and military with ID. Sunday will include a Halloween special for those who attend dressed in costume tickets are half priced. There will be treats for costumed visitors at the show’s entrance as well and vendors with Halloween balloons.
Ocean Promotions started 30 years ago with its annual Octoberfest event. The Spring Home, Condo, and Garden Show is the company’s second oldest event followed by the OC Easter Arts, Crafts, and Kids Show, which is entering into its 14th year.
Wicklein said he expects an attendance of at least 5,000 but would be elated with 15,000, which is what the spring show has reached in the past.
“We think it will catch the attention of visitors and in town and out of town property owners as well,” he said. “It is a great way to spend a few hours browsing around.”