ABOVE: Dale Saxton (right) looks at Mason Schweiss (left) from Snyder Logging Tree Service as he hangs from a crane during Fairmont’s Home Show on Friday.

FAIRMONT – The Fairmont Home Show is back to provide attendees with options for their next project.

Organizer Keith Hoye of Lakes FM 106. 5 said it’s a free vendor show for outdoor and home improvement projects.

“If you can think of it, it’s there,” he said. “Flooring, cabinet, roofing, gutters, golf cars, lawnmowers, docks and more.”

It has been an all year affair to get the show together. Hoye said they’ll start planning for 2026 this weekend during the event.

“Number one is making sure we are full,” he said. “That all of our vendors come back year after year and if they don’t, find others. There is a big marketing piece that goes into it, newspapers, billboards, posters, yard signs, social media, and ten radio stations. We start doing that around February. We start setup Wednesday before the show.”

The show opened at the Martin County Arena in Fairmont on Friday and continues today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hoye said there’s one main goal to the home show.

“We connect our vendors with our communities to build strong businesses and communities,” he said.

With the event itself, Hoye said they want to bring enough people in to boost the local economy.

“The ripple effect we hope is great in terms of economic impact by bringing people to town,” he said. “These people will be shopping and dining in Fairmont.”

This year they have 102 booths for around 60 vendors, thanks to extra space added. New this year are food trucks all three days. Sunday will have a family fun day, with a kids coloring contest and sidewalk chalk. By adding to and diversifying what’s available, Hoye said it’s all to spread local businesses to as many people as possible.

“We want to attract consumers to our vendors,” he said. “Doing something different each year is our way to keep bringing people new and returning in. We do everything we can to let people know within a 90-mile radius we’re here and we want to give them every reason to come.”

Early indicators are positive. Hoye said the reception and momentum leading up to this weekend is better than it has been in the last six years. Now, he is looking for that to translate into positive results for attendees and vendors.

“People can get expert help and guidance in whatever their home project needs are,” Hoye said. “A fair deal, shopping around with industry businesses and getting help with projects or with a new piece of equipment for their upcoming purchases. For vendors, it’s a marketing tool to show their business in front of a target audience who is here because they need what we provide,”

Based off what he saw Friday, those results have come in nicely.

“Being it’s still early on a Friday, four o’clock.” Hoye said. “Most people are still at work, so the crowd we’ve had now is indicating we’re going to have a great turnout. The weather’s going to cooperate, too.”