From the Editor’s Desk by Buzz Eggleston
When it’s spring, more than grass grows in Calaveras County. We’ve got events sprouting up all over.
The recent Celtic Faire drew 8,000 or more people to the Calaveras County Fairgrounds. Murphys Irish Day, some say, brought out 25,000 more in celebration of St. Patrick.
A lot of that turnout can be attributed to the extraordinary weather of late, plus the increasing popularity of these events both among locals and visitors alike.
Now we’re headed down the road to one of the biggest special shopping events of the season, the 2007 Calaveras County Home, Garden and Recreation Show.
The weekend of April 21 and 22 will find the Calaveras County Fairgrounds packed with exhibitors ready to help you find all the things you need to make your house beautiful, your life comfortable, and your spouse happy.
Well, two out of three ain’t bad.
Many of the exhibitors are specialists, such as experts in ways to save you money on home-energy costs. You can learn about the high-tech side of it, such as solar energy, and new window coverings that conserve heat or block the sun’s rays. Last year my wife bought a screen door even the dog can’t destroy.
But there is much, much more to see – cabinets, flooring, carpets, landscape supplies and services, financial advice, roofing, fireplaces and stoves, pools and spas, and home furnishings, just to name a few.
Many of the exhibitors also will offer show specials, an opportunity you don’t want to miss, and some have free gifts. There will be things for the kids, too, including a petting zoo. Plus we’ve provided booths for a number of community nonprofits, public agencies, and others who have important information to share.
Saturday, April 21, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, April 22, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the fairgrounds will be abuzz with activity. It’s the biggest event, the only event, of its kind in Calaveras County. We’ve lined up more than 90 exhibitors from near and far to share their products and services, their knowledge and skills.
Watch for posters promoting the event to start popping up all over the county, beginning this week. As in the past, these posters feature the exquisite art of Murphys’ Bambi Papais, one of many great artists and crafters who share our love of the Sierra foothills.
And, as always, a week before the event your Enterprise will include a special magazine section, your guide to the whole show, including directions to each booth in Mark Twain Hall, Tom Sawyer Hall, the Frogateria, the outdoor exhibits and the concessions. It also will contain brief informational articles about nearly all of the exhibitors so that you can get to know them a bit better meeting them in person at the show.
Packed with information, the magazine is designed to help you get the most from your visit to the fairgrounds, just south of Angels Camp. Extra copies will be available at our hospitality booth set up near the entrance to Mark Twain Hall. Make sure to drop by and say hi.
In the past, the show has provided a gathering place for people from all over Calaveras County, a place to renew acquaintances, meet new friends and catch up on what’s been happening over the winter. It’s a good time and it brings our community together.
The same can be said of another event just a bit further off: The Calaveras County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee.
This year’s fair will be May 16 through 20, a five-day run, building on a tradition that goes back many decades.
As with the Home, Garden and Recreation Show, we’ll bring our readers full advance coverage of the fair by producing a fair guide, including details about exhibits, entertainment and competitions. That, too, will be included as a supplement to the Enterprise about a week before the fair gates open.
And between now and then, watch for the fair’s regular updates on events, written by Laurie Giannini, in our People & Places section on Tuesdays.
A huge amount of planning and preparation go into all these events so that you can enjoy them to the fullest.
Come on out and be part of the fun.
Contact Buzz Eggleston at gm@calaverasenterprise.com.
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