MOSES LAKE — It’s getting close to the time when people start to come out of their winter hibernation and get serious about the projects they’ve been waiting to tackle. The Columbia Basin Home and Garden Show, coming to Moses Lake Feb. 28 and March 1, could be an excellent place to start. 

“It's important for us to offer something for everyone while they're there,” said Lisa Villegas, owner of Seed Cupboard Nursery in Royal City and the organizer of the show. “If you're looking for homes, they've got Realtors there. If you're looking for statuary for your garden, we've got that. We've got a coffee vendor there if you want espresso; the bakery is going to be there. We're just a little bit of everything.” 

More than 3,500 people came out last year for the two-day event, Villegas estimated. This is the third year for the show, which was actually inspired by an annual show the Columbia Basin Herald used to put on years ago. That was not long after she had opened her nursery in 2013, Villegas said. 

“I (met) so many new customers, and they were like, ‘Well, we were at the show, so we decided to come out and see you,’ and they've been long-term customers ever since then,” she said. “I ended up making a lot of good contacts.” 

Over the years, customers would ask her about the possibility of hosting a garden show, and in 2023 she finally threw the switch on it. The show proved to be a place where people who know more about one aspect or another of gardening or home improvement could be gathered in one place. 

“We showcase all of our services we offer,” said Yohanna Chavez, owner of Heavenly Roofing in Ephrata and a regular exhibitor at the fair. “We offer roofing, painting, siding, windows, gutters. We have a booth there to talk to homeowners if they're interested in (things like) free inspections. We get a lot of leads and new contacts.” 

There were 38 vendors signed up on Tuesday, Villegas said, and there’s still time for more to sign up. The Columbia Basin Home and Garden Show has had about 70 vendors the last couple of years in the Commercial Building at the Grant County Fairgrounds, and if enough spaces are sold this year, it could carry over into the 4-H Building as well. 

“Last year we were completely packed with vendors, and we had looked at doing the second building,” she said. “We have reserved the second building if we have vendors and need it for overflow.” 

A lot of the businesses that exhibit at the show are smaller ones that register at the last minute, she added, so there’s really no way to know how much space will be needed. 

Not everything at the show is directly related to home and garden, however. There are always vendors offering food and goodies, both to eat at the show and to take home. 

“We try to throw in a few, like gift-type vendors so that if somebody doesn't want to talk roofing, the wife can go look at gift stuff,” Villegas said. 

“I like to wander around (at the show),” Chavez said. “There's always bakers, and the beef jerky and the coffee and just fun stuff to look around at.” 

For more information or to sign up for a booth, visit www.seedcupboardnursery.com. 

Columbia Basin Home & Garden Show 

Feb. 28-March 1
10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Grant County Fairgrounds
3953 Airway Drive NE, Moses Lake
Free admission 

    A vendor talks with potential customers at a previous Columbia Basin Home and Garden Show at the Grant County Fairgrounds.
  

    Erin and Joe Eaton, left, chat with customers at a previous Columbia Basin Home and Garden Show.