Homeowners and families visited the Chico Home & Garden Show this weekend, an event showcasing more than 250 exhibits and services focusing on home rebuilding and renovation.
From building to building, the Silver Dollar Fairground was packed with local businesses ready to help improve anyone’s property from apartments, homes, gardens and landscapes.
“There’s something for everybody,” Show Manager Gina Crawford said.
The annual two-day show featured activities for the whole family and areas to explore home ideas and innovations. Crawford said the event had 11,500 visitors over two days.
Upon entering the fairground, a massive garden of bonsai trees and viewing stones called suiseki set up by the Chico Bonsai Society drew people toward a potential new hobby in garden appreciation.
“Bonsai is kind of a peaceful kind of thing. People water their plants, water their trees and chill out. A lot of people have ponds and koi for similar reasons,” Chico Bonsai Society member Mike Campos said. “It takes me a half-hour to water all these plants. It’s like bonding with a plant; they’re like family members.”
Nearby the bonsai, suiseki viewing rocks were on, which Campos said is an art form that developed at the same time as bonsai.
Across Silver Dollar fairgrounds, five whole buildings were packed with home improvement vendors, local art, photography, metalwork, crafters, kitchen equipment, and hot tubs. Food and activities like a magic show were provided for kids.
“Today, we just came just to look. We found interesting photos, metalworks, and a lot of interesting people to meet and talk to,” visitor Hellen Dennis said. “I love all the signs, plants and things like this. And we’re still in building one yet.”
In one pavilion, massive hot tubs which needed stairs to climb up took up the entire building extending outside. Visitor David Simmen was browsing for hot tubs when his wife Kelsey Simmen lifted 4-year-old Leora Ketai over to see inside.
Beyond home improvement, the “Gift and Gourmet Hall” showcased local art and kitchen gifts for those not interested in the commitment of renovation.
