Want to buy plants, hire a contractor or learn about energy efficiency while watching Clark Public Utilities linemen scale a utility pole overhead? Then head to the Clark County Event Center at the Fairgrounds this weekend.
Clark Public Utilities is hosting its annual Home & Garden Idea Fair on Saturday and Sunday at the Clark County Event Center at the Fairgrounds, 17402 N.E. Delfel Road, Ridgefield. Admission to the event, which includes nearly 300 local exhibitors, is free. Parking is $6.
Vendors include local contractors, landscapers, home businesses and nurseries.
A new “your home, your utility” exhibit from Clark Public Utilities will help customers find new ways to lower power and water bills.
“Employees who are experts in our energy efficiency, electric vehicle, account management and payment assistance programs will be available to answer questions and help visitors discover ideas to reduce energy waste and bring utility expenses down,” utility spokesman Dameon Pesanti said.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Clark Public Utilities Home & Garden Idea Fair
When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 26-27
COST: Admission is free but parking is $6
Where: Clark County Event Center at the Fairgrounds, 17402 N.E. Delfel Road, Ridgefield
Info: clbn.us/PUDHomeFair
The Home & Garden Idea Fair dates to 1991, an era when trade shows drew huge crowds. Attendance at the utility’s event peaked in the early 2000s at around 40,000 attendees over two days. Today, it attracts closer to 15,000.
The event started as a way for Clark Public Utilities to share conservation efforts and show the impacts energy conservation could have on customers’ energy bills, said Heather Allman, senior manager of communications at Clark Public Utilities.
So the idea fair was born, drawing businesses from across Southwest Washington that could help customers improve homes, yards or gardens, Allman said.
“As a public utility, this would also give us an opportunity to have that in-person connection with our customers and to talk about our energy conservation efforts,” she said.
The event helps boost the local economy, as well, Pesanti said.
The idea fair includes free activities for kids, a blood drive and booths from community partners including the Clark County Food Bank, Dozer Day and Evergreen Habitat for Humanity.
Hundreds of utility staff volunteer for the two-day event, which takes months to plan.
“We’re proud to curate a show that has evolved over 30 years to become a true local tradition and one of the area’s biggest plant sales where our customers can kick-off the spring home improvement season,” Pesanti said.
