Still time to check out Wayne Home and Garden show; Saturday visitors say it's good times

WOOSTER − April showers bring May flowers, so nobody seemed to mind a little bit of drizzle and the gray sky during the Wayne County Home and Garden Show on Saturday morning. Cars streamed in before the show even opened at 10 a.m.

Attendees, packing all of the parking areas, were estimated by event officials to total 10,000-plus by the end of the Saturday-Sunday event.

Dick Stull recalled helping to initiate the Home and Garden Show 32 years ago with just 27 vendors.

This year it featured more than 200 exhibitors.

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"It has just kept getting better and better," Stull said.

"A lot of them are from all around Wayne County, but it reaches even beyond that," said Samira Zimmerly, president of the Wooster Area Chamber of Commerce.

Adults could get ideas and make purchases in the areas of home improvement and landscaping and even evaluate health care options.

Plenty for kids to do at the Children's Garden

A Children's Garden, scavenger hunt and child-oriented items from bubbles to chocolate chip cookies being passed out by vendors kept kids engaged, Zimmerly said.

Each building had a vendor scavenger hunt participant to provide a stamp and a treat.

The grand prize to be attained was a wheelbarrow from Rural King "filled with spring goodies," Zimmerly said.

"We worked hard to make it family-friendly, something for everyone," she said.

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Beth Babulski of Wooster brought her children, Robbie, 11, and Sarabeth, 13, "to get them out of bed to do something," she said.

After only a few stops, they had already collected a Frisbee, bouncy ball and yardstick. She herself was on the lookout for ideas for her yard and patio, particularly furniture for the purpose of entertaining more often.

It's a good place to get outside, have fun with the kids

Elizabeth Winningham of Burbank said, "We come pretty much every year." While she does check out and buy some items here and there, "I come mainly for them," Winningham said of her children, 6, 3 and 1. "The kids love getting all of the treats."

At the Children's Garden, Heather Kiner, a volunteer from Farmers National Bank, led the younger attendees in making bird feeders out of bowls with bird seed hung by strings of Froot Loops.

"I found it online and thought it would make a cute little activity to do," Kiner said.

The children's area in the 4-H building has expanded, she said, and this year encompassed making pinwheels, playing games and participating in STEM activities.

With donations from local businesses, Pam Carter, environmental coordinator for Frito-Lay, offered everything needed to plant a marigold and take it home − and a bag of chips.

One of the health care choices represented was Arukah Functional Wellness of Wooster.

"We're something new," said Hayley Franks, assistant to owner Tanya Franks.

Arukah, meaning "touched by God and completely healed, body, soul and spirit" in Hebrew, revolves around natural health − nutrition as medicine, Tanya Franks said.

Vicki Vitallo, a Realtor with RE/MAX Showcase, is a veteran of the Home and Garden Show. People stop by to check out the housing market, which is "still very strong with lots of buyers, but a need for more homes to sell," she said, noting manning a booth at the Home and Garden Show is "a way to interact with the community."

Vendors enjoy interacting with the community

Mike Tepe, general manager of Mariola Italian, was on hand to introduce the community to the new restaurant and even seek employees.

"Workforce continues to be a challenge. There will be a couple of companies hiring," Zimmerly said.

At Mariola Italian, it will take about 130 of them to serve the 270-seat dining room and patio, which soon will open seven days a week for lunch and dinner.

"I'm pushing gift cards for Mother's Day," Tepe said. "We're happy to be in the community."

Gayle Wetzel from Pampered Chef and her mother, Barb Meadows, Forever Special Catering, were doing a brisk business.

Pampered Chef's top selling item is a mix and chop utensil, Wetzel said.

Wetzel learned another sought-after item − a cup slicer that chops vegetables or fruits directly into its container − became known after being featured on TikTok.

Meadows brought delicacies including fudge, candy and specialty popcorn.

Here's a family excited about summer glamping

Shaina Crank discovered something at the Home and Garden Show that just might be embraced by her camping family − glamping.

"We camp every year and throw up a tent and an air mattress," Crank said, enthralled with the idea of renting a glamping tent with a real memory foam mattress and the possibility of amenities such as a movie projector.

In her family's estimation, the price for two nights of glamping is not that much more than a hotel.

The rental includes setup and teardown, she said.

"The plant sale is a hot stop," said Zimmerly.

"They started this a few years ago, and people have really liked it. It's a little too early to plant (the purchases), but they're getting them anyway," said volunteer Vicky Puster, adding, house plants and succulents also were available.

Serving as a cashier for the plant sale, Michelle Rothgery from the Chamber of Commerce, said, "It has been a good morning."

The show continues Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Outdoor, home ideas, family good times part of Wayne Home, Garden Show