NARI Home and Remodeling show takes extra precautions for annual event

MILWAUKEE, WI (CBS 58) – The NARI Milwaukee home and remodeling show will still be taking place Friday, October 16th-18th at State Fair Park, the same grounds as the COVID-19 alternative care facility.

But they’re two separate facilities that are about half a mile apart. 

First and foremost, masks are required in order to get in. There are hand sanitizer dispensers throughout the facility, and you’ll notice arrows on the ground that will weave you through the one-way aisles. 

Organizers explain their biggest concern with this annual event was placing all the necessary precautions. 

“Putting on a safe show was a new element for us,” says Diane Wilhouse, executive director of NARI Milwaukee. “We started with online ticketing to remove the hand ticketing process. We obviously have increased our aisle sizes to they’re 10 feet to ensure social distancing.”

This year they’ve shortened their list of vendors from 100 to 70. 

They’re following all the CDC and state guidelines by keeping capacity at 25%, which means people may have to wait outside until a person exits. 

Vendors are also taking their own precautions. 

“We have our hand sanitizer here as well as wipes,” says Peter Jensen spokesperson for Gabor, a vendor at the site. “We too are limiting the number of people in our space and wiping down and sanitizing accordingly.”

While they’re on the same site as the alternative care facility, the buildings are about half a mile apart and have a separate designated parking lot. 

“Between the Expo Center and the Products Pavilion, it’s about a two-block distance so we are featured on one of the state park entrances,” says Wilhouse. “We have a private entrance; gate 5, where consumers can come in and they will be parking in a completely different end of State Fair Park. 

The event opened at noon on Friday and runs through Sunday. 

For more information and tickets, click here.