Yesterday I spent four hours Christmas shopping with my mom and niece at one of my favorite area shopping malls, and while I was there, I got a little taste of the holiday madness. It’s only November, but if felt like mid-December with impatient drivers circling and circling for the “perfect” spot in the parking lot, throngs of people sweating in their down parkas, and “door-busting” sales around every corner. The sales I like, the crazy drivers and crowds I can do without.
That’s one of the reasons I love the 23rd Annual Midwest Home and Holiday Show—held at the Minneapolis Convention Center this weekend, November 15-17—there’s a Christmas shopping component that is perfect for people like me. You drive to a covered parking ramp, you go inside, and you take your time shopping in an open, spacious area (no elbowing or nudging allowed!). For the most part, Home and Holiday Show attendees don’t look irritated, don’t feel claustrophobic, and don’t seem rushed. They actually look like they’re enjoying the shopping experience, and really, isn’t that part of the fun!?
Last year I bought my brother and best friend some Droolin’ Moose “Amaretto by Morning” gourmet chocolates, (Droolin’ Moose will be back this year, too, and I will be purchasing more gifts from them), I bought my father-in-law a unique Harley Davidson troll doll for the garden, and I bought some gourmet dips to bring to a friend’s holiday party (delicious). This year, I’m already excited about a few of the exhibitors that will be in the Gatherings by Draftmark and Midwest Home area—specifically Socal Style “bringing a little of the California sunshine to Minnesota,” Autumn Harvest (I love their store in downtown White Bear Lake), and the local businesses in the dog-friendly “HAMMS” area (Help A Minnesota Maker Succeed), especially StormSister Spatique.
Of course, the Midwest Home and Holiday Show is also an excellent resource for everything from major remodeling to minor home improvement projects. My friends have credited the Home Show with helping them find the company they hired to finish their lower level, my parents were inspired to build a fireplace, and many, many people leave with questions answered. I know, when my husband and I are ready to remodel, we’ll shop around at the Home Show first. (Stop daydreaming about a bigger, more functional kitchen—with extra storage!—and talk to the experts who can help make that dream become a reality!)
There will be close to 200 industry experts under one roof, beautiful garden displays in the Midwest Home Green House—it’s so nice to see all that color in the cold, drab, maybe even snowy days of mid-November—and a host of interesting feature areas, including a tablescape vignette competition, the Cambria Culinary Kitchen cooking demos, presented by Coborns Delivers, and daily performances by the Twin Cities Gospel Choir.
Tickets are $12 at the door (good all weekend), $6 for those 65 and over, and free to military members and their families and anyone 17 and under. For more information, visit midwesthomeshow.com.
