Thousands of people packed the Albion Fairgrounds this past weekend, taking in everything the Ridge Meadows Home Show and the free Family Fest had to offer.
“We were very pleased,” with the event, said Graham Vanstone, executive director of the Ridge Meadows Home Show, noting that every person he spoke to at the show gave him positive feedback.
The home show features the trade show, the Family Fest complete with amusement rides, live entertainment, and a monster foam party, a psychic and wellness fair, food truck festival, and much more.
Crystal Winterton of Sugar and Spice hand-made bath and body care remembered going to the long-running show as a child, when it was in the downtown.
“It’s always been a good show,” she said. “I’m always proud of the home show. I came to this home show with my parents. My product is made in Maple Ridge and so was I.”
Many vendors come to the home show to sell products ranging from home cooling systems to patios and decks.
Others came to make contact, and that included the Maple Ridge Community Foundation. Vice president Angela Dundas noted the organization is celebrating its 50th year, and is making an extra effort to meet the public and raise the non-profit charity’s profile.
Dundas said she attends numerous home shows, and asserts “this is the most well-attended and busy show.”
Vanstone said the new Paw Patch and the beer garden were really successful at the outdoor Family Fest.
The beer garden tripled its attendance from last year.
People wanted to spend time outdoors enjoying the hot, sunny day, noted Vanstone.
Numbers into the show were slightly down this year, he said, estimating there were between 21,000 to 22,000 people who filed through Planet Ice and the Golden Ears Winter Club during the weekend.
Vanstone believes attendance varied as a result the current economic climate – in addition to the beautiful weather.
“Obviously when we factor an amazing hot and sunny weekend in – the first one of the year – that can affect (the) event’s attendance numbers,” he said.
This year Vanstone and his team tweaked the flow of guests through the show, having them enter Cam Neely Arena first and exit through the Golden Ears Winter Club.
Next year, Vanstone is planning to tweak the flow of the crowds again. It’s something organizers play around with every year trying to make it perfect.
“It was something we tried and it seemed to work. But, again, it takes people time to get used to something new,” he said.
He is also planning to have the Paw Patch back for a second year – bigger and better.
Organizers of the Paw Patch were very happy with the show, explained Vanstone, noting that next year he would like to have the demonstration area closer to the marketplace area.
Ultimately Vanstone enjoys seeing people getting together and enjoying the event.
“I always just love seeing the community come together because usually it’s the first largest event in the community to happen and it’s where families and friends come to meet annually,” said Vanstone, as he thanked the volunteers, community groups, and team members for making the event possible.