Indoor-outdoor Home and Family Show a hit
May 4—ASHTABULA TOWNSHIP — The new additions to the Ashtabula County Home and Family Show seemed to be a hit with attendees and vendors alike on Saturday at Ashtabula Towne Square.
A family component was added to the 2024 show and the event was moved from mid-march to May with hopes of warmer weather and the chance to use outdoor parking lots to enrich the event.
Vendors were spread throughout the concourse of the mall and some had tables outside in the parking lot, near rides and food trucks designed to draw families.
More than 70 vendors signed up for the show with many home improvement businesses mixing with social service agencies hoping to provide a family entertainment component.
Bluey, a children's character, could be seen wandering the mall greeting children and posing for pictures. Amanda Ballard, an organizer of the event, was taking Bluey around and said children and adults were stopping for pictures.
The show had a two-year hiatus in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Organizers are seeking to grow the show back through extending interest to new families. The event is sponsored by the Ashtabula County Chambers of Commerce and continued Sunday morning and afternoon.
Cuddle Team Leader, also a children's favorite, was scheduled to pose for pictures Sunday afternoon.
The sponsoring agencies include chambers covering the areas surrounding Ashtabula, Conneaut, Geneva, Grand Valley, Jefferson, Rock Creek and Andover.
Some of the vendors included crafters and candy makers showing their wares. John Spring, of Sheffield Township, was selling a variety of woodworking signs from a booth inside the mall.
Spring said he recently retired and was looking for something to do.
"I picked up wood working to pass time and make a few bucks on the side," he said.
A variety of businesses and crafters offered their services including etching, jewelry, candy, tumblers and more specifically home-related options such as gutter protection, paving, furniture and bathroom improvements.
"This is the best [attendance] I've seen ere on Saturday in years," Ballard said.
Ashtabula Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Greg Church said the addition of the food trucks and play options for kids seemed to be drawing people back to the event.
"I feel pretty good about it so far," Church said.
Manda Jackson, director of quality and community outreach for the Ashtabula County Board of DD, said many people stopped at their booth to learn more about the organization.
She said it is a good way to let people know more about the organization that serves the needs of developmentally disabled people throughout the county.
Lara Reibold, president of the Ashtabula Chambers of Commerce, said the event well and there was a great turnout for the Sunday afternoon car show.
"Bluey has been a huge hit. The Rockwall Bounce House and face painting have been real big with the kids,"" she said.
Reibold said the live entertainment bolstered the show.
"It has just been a good event," she said.
