On March 15, 16, and 17, Hanover will host its annual HomeLife Expo right at the heart of the Dartmouth campus. The Expo fills the Leverone Field House for three days, drawing Upper Valley businesses eager to publicize and market their wares locally. For its 35th anniversary, the Expo will enjoy a two-year renovation and redesign. This annual event is a great opportunity to try and buy new tools, learn new skills, meet people, and have fun! Bring the whole family and come explore. It’s a great cure for late-winter cabin fever.

Perhaps the most exciting part of the HomeLife Expo is that both the vendors and the consumers are likely to be your neighbors, friends, and coworkers. Any business can rent a booth and set up shop for three days. And the wares and services offered are certainly full of variety. Businesses range from spas to handmade pet products to restaurants, and everything in between. When I attended the HomeLife Expo a few years ago, I remember being thrilled to be able to explore a demo RV and warm up my tootsies in a running hot tub. My dad enjoyed talking to the owner of a canoe company and checking out the model canoes that the craftsman had brought along. The displays themselves are lively and full of action. Unlike shopping in stores or ordering from catalogs and online, the HomeLife Expo allows customers to interact directly with the producers and owners of businesses, reviving old-fashioned aspects of trade that are often lost in our modern economy.

The HomeLife Expo is undergoing a complete renovation in order to better serve vendors and consumers alike. With a new floor plan, the Expo will now have its booths arranged in “neighborhoods,” e.g., Pets and Kids, Home Enhancement, and Outdoor Living. This way, products will be better organized and easier for shoppers to compare.

Now in its 35th year, the Expo is more engaging than ever and reflects the many changes we’re seeing in homes and yards and more! Renovations will include a new “How-To Theater.” During scheduled times over the course of the three days, craftsmen including builders, gardeners, chefs, and others have the opportunity to demonstrate the skills of their trades in live workshops. In “Restaurant Row” this year, local eateries will sell their wares, offer free samples, and have meet-and-greets and live cooking demonstrations with their chefs. This is a great opportunity for your family to sample local cuisines and discover new favorites—all in one convenient location.

Don’t miss this chance to sample so many experiences, all in one place!