NARI Home Improvement Show returning to State Fair Park

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The 56th annual Milwaukee NARI Home Improvement Show is coming to State Fair Park Thursday, February 15, through Sunday, February 18.

An outdoor living display, the Schlossmann’s Automotive Group Vehicle Display, and the SkillsUSA Carpentry TeamWorks competition are some of the attractions the show will feature. 

The Show’s “In the Park” outdoor display will showcase Milwaukee NARI members Aquatica and Breezy Hill Nursery.

Aquatica will be doing displays in three corners of the outdoor living area featuring raised garden wall planters with unique water features, such as bubbling urns and rocks, along with cascading waterfalls. The fountains will be accented with LED lighting and ground covers. 

Breezy Hill’s display will contain an assortment of landscaping and hardscaping features.

The In the Park area will also include live music on the weekend on the Azek Bliffert Music Deck. Vinnie Hines will be performing on Sat., Feb. 17 from noon – 3 p.m. and Sun., Feb. 18 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. The area will also have instructional Tai Chi for beginners presented by Aurora Health Care at 12:30 on Fri., Feb. 16, 1:30 on Sat., Feb. 17, and 10:30 on Sun., Feb. 18. Show attendees are encouraged and welcome to participate.

The latest 2018 SUVs, cars, and trucks will be shown inside the expo center in the Schlossmann Auto Group display, such as RAM Trucks, Honda, Subaru, Jeep, the ProMaster Cargo Vans and more.

The Show will host the Wisconsin SkillsUSA Carpentry TeamWorks competition sponsored by the Milwaukee NARI Foundation, ABC Supply, and Creative Construction of Wisconsin showcasing area high school students. Eleven teams representing eight schools (Barneveld High School; Blair-Taylor High School; Fort Atkinson High School; Germantown High School; Kimberly High School; Muskego High School (three teams); New Berlin High Schools (two teams); and Slinger High School) will compete in a state construction competition Thurs., Feb. 15 – Fri., Feb. 16.

Team members will analyze a project drawing, write an action plan, give a presentation and demonstrate their ability to work as a team performing skills in residential carpentry, plumbing, and electricity. The teams will also be judged on cleanliness of jobsite, timeliness of completing the project, and proper inventorying of tools and equipment. The structures that are built will be on display the remainder of the Show. The winning team will advance to the National SkillsUSA competition in Louisville, KY June 25-29.

With a theme of “Remodeling Done Right,” the Show will provide attendees with an opportunity to meet with more than 250 Milwaukee NARI member exhibitors. Association contractors will display the latest home improvement and remodeling products and services, including design/build, kitchens, decks, cabinets, windows, wall covering, bathrooms, lighting, landscaping, roofing, painting, fireplaces, siding, and more.

In addition, there will be daily educational presentations and tips from industry experts on the Presentation Stage, including Melinda Myers, the Plant Doctor; Nick Kerzner, the Construction Guru; and the “Guess the Price” game show, emceed by Mike McGivern, host of the weekly “Home Improvement Show” radio program on WSSP-AM 1250/Sports Radio 105.7 FM The Fan. The Show will also feature a Culinary Stage with cooking competitions and chefs preparing their favorite recipes, including Mad Dog & Merrill, the Grilling Buddies.

Milwaukee NARI and the Milwaukee NARI Foundation will host a career fair on Thurs., Feb. 15 from 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. on the second floor of the expo building, with more than 20 association members who are seeking employees on hand to discuss available positions within a variety of disciplines, including carpentry, drywall, flooring, HVAC, painting, roofing, plumbing, siding, designers, sales professionals, and more.

Show hours on Thurs., Feb. 15 are noon – 8 p.m.; 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Fri., Feb. 16, and Sat., Feb. 17; and 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Sun., Feb. 18. Admission is $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Tickets for adults 60 and older are $8, while children 17 and younger and active and retired military personnel with military identification are admitted at no charge. Advance tickets can be purchased at www.milwaukeenari.org and at the Milwaukee NARI office, 11815 W. Dearbourn Avenue in Wauwatosa, Mon. – Fri., 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. A $2 off admission coupon sponsored by Weather Tight Corporation valid on up to four regularly priced tickets each day of the Show is also available at www.weathertightcorp.com/nari.

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