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ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

Those looking for some home improvement inspiration or spring decor will soon be able to find it right in Liberal.

This year's Springfest Home Show will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 26 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 27, and everything will be at the Seward County Activity Center at 810 Stadium Ave. There will be many vendors on hand for home remodeling and improvement, equipment, cleaning/restoration, cookware, phones, food and snacks and clothing, among many others. More than 70 vendors are already signed up, and coordinator Cheryl Collins said there are still some spots left.

“This year, we've especially got a lot of vendors for home improvement and outdoor work, which we haven't had for a while, so we're really excited about that,” Collins said. “The VFW will also be on hand in the kitchen and will be providing concessions for everyone, and Big H BBQ will be set up outside the facility. We will truly have a little bit of everything for everyone, so it should be a great event. If you want people to know about your business, this is a great place to showcase it. If they want to sign up, they would just call us here at the radio station at (620) 624-3891, or stop by the studio at 1410 N. Western Ave., or email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and we'll guide you through securing your spot. Like I say with all of our shows, where else can shoppers go and visit this many businesses at one time in one space? And then on the flip side, where can a business owner go that will pretty much guarantee hundreds and hundreds of people looking at your stuff even though you're not technically at your store? A lot of local businesses will be part of this, and they have plenty of wares to sell, and we also have a lot of out-of-town businesses who participate and have items to sell. There will be a lot for people to look at, and there will be something for everyone. The weather's getting nicer, and this is definitely the time of year when people are thinking about those home improvement projects and actually have the time to get it done. I also have to give some praise to the Seward County Activity Center staff, they are absolutely amazing to work with every year because they help us set everything up, and we have vendors tell us after every show how much they enjoy coming to Liberal because the facility is so nice and so well managed.”

Collins said planning for this year’s event has been going on since the end of 2024.

“At the conclusion of the holiday show in November, we handed out applications to the vendors who were there, and we also sent out applications to past vendors and some other new vendors, so it was a pretty quick turnaround,” Collins said. “We also have a show we'll be doing during the Five State Fair, and then we'll be doing our annual holiday show in November, and we already have a spreadsheet of vendors who have expressed interest or already told us they'll be here. Planning for these shows is truly an ongoing process, and we always get calls from people asking if this or that vendor will still be in their usual spot this time around, or whether or not this or that vendor will be back for this show. There are people who plan around this show so they can maximize their time at the show, and it makes us feel good having that much interest. There is going to be so much variety for people, and I'm really excited to have so many home improvement-related booths, because I know a lot of people in the community really like those.”

Collins said she is proud of having so many vendors for the event every year.

“We truly believe the Springfest Home Show sells itself. A lot of times, we have shoppers who come to the show and then end up thinking 'I need to have MY business here!' and then they end up signing up because they see how much foot traffic they can get,” Collins said. “That helps us fill up the Seward County Activity Center every year, and it's a great blessing for us. Working with all the different people is truly what makes the show so awesome every year. It is a lot of work on our end getting everything together and arranging everything, and it can be kind of stressful, but it ultimately ends up being totally worth it seeing all the shoppers streaming through the facility and visiting with all the different vendors. We've also become friends with a lot of those vendors who have come and gone throughout the years, so it's a reunion almost every show.”

With the wide variety of vendors expected, Collins said she hopes to see a large turnout.

“Spring always means warmer weather, so this show goes perfectly with that, and the Seward County Activity Center looks different with each show – the holiday show usually conjures up those Christmas memories and ideas for decorations and presents and all of that, while the spring show makes people think more of being outdoors, so seeing our vendors adjust their booths to reflect the seasons is awesome,” Collins said. “Each show has a different feel, and I absolutely love that. And the shoppers will be able to go through so, so many different businesses, and all of them are from around this area, so it's a great way to support smaller businesses. We typically end up with more than 90 businesses as part of our spring event, and for a lot of people, this event is truly a one-stop shop.”

Overall, Collins said, she hopes for another successful event.

“Like always, I want to say 'Thank you' to the community and surrounding areas for their support, because we would not be able to do these shows without that support,” Collins said. “We would love to have everyone come out and if you're a business owner, maybe you'll get inspired to have a booth of your own at a future show. Just come out and see everything, because there will be something for everyone.”