HOULTON, Maine — What better way is there to celebrate the beginning of spring, than to take in the latest in lawn care equipment, all-terrain vehicles, campers and greenery?
That is precisely the thinking for organizers of the 2018 Southern Aroostook Trade Show, coming to the Millar Civic Center this Saturday, April 7, and Sunday, April 8.
“It has been a slow build up for participants to the 2018 Trade Show and we were worried for a while, especially after we saw that Fort Fairfield had cancelled their event because of low attendance,” Jane Torres, executive director of the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce said Monday. “But, luckily, the calls started coming in a week ago and it looks like we will be full again this year. We don’t have as many non-profit groups, but do have more vendors for the spaces which is a good thing.”
The Houlton show typically attracts between 1,500 and 2,000 attendees over the two-day period, depending on the weather. Preparations for the event start a long time before the actual trade show is opened to the public and requires lots of man hours and a dedicated group of professionals invested in making their booth interesting to the viewers.
“We also opted to hold the Trade Show the first week of April, hoping that it would bring more foot traffic to the event,” Torres explained. “If we hold it too late in April we run the risk of the weather being too nice. There is something about that first 70 degree day that makes people want to be outside raking rather than inside wandering from booth to booth.”
This year’s trade show features a wide variety of vendors, and will include demonstrations by the Northern Maine Woodturners.
“Our Trade show is a combination shopping/informational opportunity mixed in with a good dose of catching up with other community members that you haven’t seen all winter,” Torres said. “It gives attendees a chance to discuss the product displayed with the business owner and to make an informed decision before purchasing.”
Several landscaping and construction companies also will be on site to answer any questions people may have for their spring projects. Houlton Powersports will again have a number of recreational vehicles on display, including motorcycles, ATVs and motor homes, and Theriault Equipment will have all of the latest lawn tractor models for small to large projects. Pleasant View Tree Farm also will have lots of greenery on display, to give the event more of a “Home and Garden” flavor.
The Houlton event runs 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 8, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 9. Admission is $3, though a $1 off coupon can be found in this week’s issue of the Houlton Pioneer Times.
For more information, call 532-4216.
