Home and garden show opens today at Show Me Center in Cape

Today marks the opening of the 29th annual home and garden show at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. More than 120 exhibitors from Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri and Tennessee will display products mostly related to landscaping, home improvement and gardening. About 45 craft exhibits also will be on hand.

The show will include representatives of area farmers markets, cooking demonstrations, seminars on dinosaurs from the Bollinger County Museum of Natural History and exhibits on how to make a home have less negative effect on the environment.

"We realize people are pinching pennies this year," said event coordinator Sarah Geringer. "This is a way to get out of the house and have some excitement. It's a show for the whole family."

Geringer said the past three home and garden shows have had an average attendance of 6,500, and she expects to achieve that number for this weekend's show.

Doors open at 3 p.m. today and close at 8 p.m. The show continues from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

The cost of admission is $5 for adults 13 years and older. Those 12 years and younger are admitted free.