Home Shows in Bloomington, Illinois

Showing

• Once held at Illinois State University's Redbird Arena, the annual Home Show now takes place at Bloomington's Interstate Center, the city's multipurpose banquet and conference center with over 100 acres of land. The show is held over one weekend during March and is $5 to enter. Those under the age of 18 get in for free. A raffle is held every year for attendees to win a shopping spree to use at any one of the vendors at the show. Entry slips are available at the show and in The Pantagraph, the area's local newspaper, prior to the show. The Red Cross also sets up shop at the show for all those willing to donate blood. The 2010 Home Show was the last year that the Interstate Center hosted the exhibit.

Vendors

• 2010 saw the 23rd edition of the show with 340 booths splayed out across the Interstate Center. Organizations from within the community and nearby congregate in a single locale to display their services and products for inside the home and out. The Home Show is a family-oriented event. While parents browse and shop for their home children carry around bags to stock full of goodies and giveaways. Past-show vendors have included: AAA Windows, Siding, Roofing; Andrews Tree Service Inc.; Bathrooms Plus, Inc.; Cabinetworks; Nordine Remodeling, LLC; Scentsy; Sunblock Films, Inc.; The Blind Factory; TruGreen Lawn Care; Verizon Telecom; Window Planet; and Woodfront Kitchens.

Registration

• Vendor registration for the Home Show begins the September prior to the following year's showing. A single booth costs $700. Members of the Bloomington-Normal Area Home Builders Association are charged a discounted fee of $600 for a booth. As long as applicants become members of the association before the day of the show, the discounted fee will be applied. Banner spaces are $75 each. Discounted tickets are also offered to all vendors participating in the show. Registration is based upon a first come, first serve basis. All vendors requiring phone access, electricity or water (i.e. a large amount of water for a hot tub display) will need to complete a special service request form. Additional services may or may not require an extra charge to the vendor depending on the service as outlined in the request form. Insurance is required as outlined in the Exhibitor Details section attached to the Exhibitor Application.