A sure sign of spring arrives this weekend with the start of the Great Big Home + Garden Show at the I-X Center in Cleveland.
The show − the biggest and most popular in Northeast Ohio as it attracts some 100,000 visitors − is a destination for do-it-yourselfers or those looking to hire someone for home improvement or garden projects.
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It is also a great place to find some inspiration or relaxation amid the winter blues in the many garden and flower displays.
The show boasts some 400 exhibits in the I-X Center, which is situated off Interstate 71 near the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
When and where is the Great Big Home + Garden Show?
The show runs from Feb. 3 to Feb. 12 at the Cleveland I-X Center at 1 I-X Center Drive. Hours are:
• Feb. 3 and 4, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
• Feb. 5, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Sunday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Feb. 6, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
• Feb. 10 and 11, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
• Feb. 12, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
How much are tickets to the Great Big Home + Garden Show?
Tickets for adults are $15 when purchased at the show’s box office. Adult tickets purchased online at greatbighomeandgarden.com are $13. Special $11 tickets for seniors are offered Monday to Thursday at the show box office. Tickets for children ages 6 to 12 are $5.
There will be Hero Days on Feb. 3 and Feb. 10 when active and retired members of the military, as well as firstresponders, will receive free admission to the show with a valid ID.
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How many gardens are featured this year and what’s the theme?
The theme of this year’s signature gardens at the Great Big Home + Garden Show is movies.
There are eight featured gardens to tour with movie-inspired scenes from “The Secret Garden” to “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” to “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” Garden and landscape displays and exhibitors are among the 400 exhibits at this year’s show.
There is a replica of Scarlett O’Hara’s red dress from “Gone with the Wind” made of flowers by Jeremy Rettger and Studio Floral in Cleveland at the show’s main entrance.
What is the featured home at this year’s show?
The show’s featured custom home was built by JDM Modular Homes of Millersburg.
The 1,285-square-foot home has an open floor concept along with a primary bedroom andbathroom suite with a walk-in closet. The home is designed to fit on a narrow lake lot or smaller lots in city environments.
Another larger exhibit, by Weaver Barns, will show how its structures can help create a backyard escape. The Weaver Barns Backyard Oasis includes the Willow Creek Garage and Timber Ridge Pool House, along with an assortment of sheds, pavilions, garages and cabins.
Who are the celebrity guests this year?
Joe Mazza, host of the HGTV series “Home Inspector Joe,” will appear on the Main Stage on Feb. 10 and 11. He will talk about home tips and a bit about his life starting out as a construction worker, then a safety inspector for high-rises in New York City, to becoming a contractor turned TV personality.
Matt Fox will be the Main Stage emcee and will talk about home improvement projects among other topics. Fox is best known for HGTV’s “Room by Room” along with the PBS show “Aroundthe House with Matt and Shari.”
Craig Webb, who would like to remodel his own home down the bare studs, can be reached at [email protected].
