Garden show kicks off Saturday in Presque Isle

PRESQUE ISLE – Furniture, fabric and flowers are items you’d see when you visit most homes, and those products – and many others – will take center stage this weekend at the Kiwanis Home, Garden and Recreation Show.

The show, in its 25th year, will kick off on Saturday and wrap up early on Sunday evening. The event will be held at The Forum.

Kathie Beaulieu, the show’s chairperson, said Thursday that the show will feature an eclectic mix of old and new items to appeal to everyone.

“We have a wide array of products that are going to be at the show this year,” she said. “There will be home improvement items and garden displays, furniture, campers, boats, and lots of other items for both indoor and outdoor.”

The Presque Isle Police Department also will be on hand to fingerprint children and will conduct tracking and drug-detecting demonstrations with their police dogs. The Presque Isle Fire Department also will be present at the show with a display and to offer fire safety tips.

Food will be another feature of the show, as the American Lung Association of Maine is sponsoring a chili cook-off. The group is challenging chili aficionados from different clubs and organizations to take part in the cooking challenge. Visitors to the show can purchase a sample of the fare and vote for their favorite. The proceeds from the sale will go to the organization.

Beaulieu said that she is hoping a new feature of the show – a “Made In Maine” section – will catch on and attract more exhibitors in the future.

“We’ve got several vendors who will be in that section exhibiting products that are made right here in the state,” she said.

Vendors include Merry Moose Workshop, Goddess Chocolates and Crown of Maine Productions Inc.

Another highlight of the show will be the presence of Paul Parent at the WEGP radio station booth on Saturday. Parent is the host of “The Paul Parent Garden Club,” a national radio show which has been broadcast for the past 24 years. The show is broadcast locally by WEGP. Parent will be at the WEGP booth and will be conducting four free gardening seminars throughout the weekend.

Attendees also can help the hungry at the show by bringing in nonperishable food items for Catholic Charities Maine, which will be conducting its Feed the County collection campaign. The CCM will park a truck outside of The Forum where people may drop off donations.

Beaulieu encouraged everyone to come out for the show.

“It is going to be a great event,” she said Thursday.

The show will run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $3 for adults and free for children under 12. For information, log on to

www.pikiwanisclub.homestead.

com.