PHOTO BY FRANCESCA FELLOW

Rebounding from the pandemic, the 41st annual Pittsburgh Home & Garden Show, March 3-12, is adding new exhibits, expanding its Farm To Table Expo and expecting a good crowd, says its executive director, Mark Moore.

“Going into this year, we sold more exhibit space and we have a lot more enthusiasm with exhibitors,” Moore says. “We are anticipating a very good crowd.” 

More than 1,900 exhibits spanning 10 acres at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center will provide visitors with the opportunity to see, touch and buy everything from interior and exterior design, food, beverages, pet supplies and more. Vendors will offer both luxury products and basic necessities and experts will be on hand to answer, assist or demonstrate any questions.

The show is split into four categories; a show within a show. Moore says it is organized that way because it takes several hours to walk through the show, but if a customer knows what they’re looking for, then it is easy to locate. 

“We felt that it made it more convenient for people,” Moore says. “We also felt that during a person’s visit to the show, if I’m in the frame of mind of food and wine, and I’m walking and I’m tasting different foods, then it’s not a good thing to have a lawn and tractor company next to a food and wine company. Just simply because you’re not in that frame of mind.” 

The Home Interior Galleries has furniture, decor, art and accessories for the home. The Garden Pavilion showcases all things related to outdoor living. The Construction and Remodeling Center is where visitors can find contractors and construction-related services and products. The Kitchen and Cooking Collection is where the food and beverages are located as well as cabinets, countertops and cookware. 

The Farm to Table Expo, which first joined the show in 2019, is returning to feature numerous local growers and producers who will be sampling and selling produce, meat, cheeses, honey, wines and spirits. Moore says this year’s feature will be a little larger, and returning garden guru, Doug Oster, will provide advice and present during the show. 

PHOTO COURTESY OF FARM TO TABLE

“The Farm to Table feature has grown just out of exposure and the interest of being in the show because of the success that they have from it, so we’ve made it a little bit larger this year,” Moore says.

A sampling of vendors includes: 

• Brother Monk Ciderworks, an Indiana County-based orchard that grows more than 2,000 cider-specific apple trees
• Country Hammer Moonshine, who produces more than 40 flavors of moonshine plus redneck rum, redneck vodka and bourbon
• Kizzle Foods selling a variety of ground peppers
• Lemmon Brothers, which offers maple syrup from 4,500 taps
• Uncle Jammy’s, where customers can buy sauces and rubs

This year, Farm to Table is adding Kid Activities including Digging for Root Vegetables, Composting with Worms, Chicken Races and Hatch the Chicken. 

New this year is Golden Oaks Design. This is a student business from Keystone Oaks High School that creates and sells handmade products. Golden Oaks Designs is part of a nonprofit that supports schools nationwide by providing entrepreneurial guidance and funding. The show will allow students to gain in-person sales experience and all profit will go back into the Golden Oaks Design business. 

Other show features include: 

•  The Pennsylvania Food & Wine Festival
•  Pets at Home Aisle, where you can adopt a pet or find supplies
•  The Biergarten, which features brews, snacks and Roof Top Hops IPAbrewed from hops on the roof of the Convention Center
• John’s River View Caf​​é, which is providing dining with drinks and specialty appetizers and desserts available at The Crawford Grill
• Children’s Village, which will provide young families with activities. 
• The Fort Pitt Division of the Train Collectors Association, a worldwide collectors’ society 
• Steel City LUG, an adult LEGO group

Tickets are $10 for adults, $4 for children 6-12 and free for children under 6. Tickets can be purchased here and the show hours are here and parking info here. Admission includes all exhibits and activities. Free Re-Entry passes also are available.