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Calling Card to the Community

FCBIA 49th Annual Frederick Home & Garden Expo and CTC Student Builder Olympics

Article by Danielle Adams

Photography by Provided By Frederick County Building Industry Association

Originally published in Frederick Lifestyle

Frederick County Building Industry Association (FCBIA) is celebrating its 49th year at the Frederick County Fairgrounds to showcase the annual Frederick Home & Garden Expo. This signature event provides an opportunity for homeowners and renters to compare goods and services and discover fresh ideas, innovative products, practical advice and great prices from hundreds of experts in the home and garden industries. For almost five decades, this has become an anchor event for individuals and families in and around Frederick County. FCBIA stresses the importance of meeting with businesses face-to-face to build a relationship that will be part of creating or making improvements to your home. The Expo extends for two days to let your inspiration run wild with professionals who can help turn your dreams into reality!

What can you expect?

This annual event offers free entry and parking to the public. Arrive by 9:00 AM on Saturday morning to be part of the opening ceremonies, where you will meet with local dignitaries, elected officials and leaders in our community that join us for the ribbon cutting ceremony. They each wish to support our event, knowing how important the building industry is to the economic welfare of Frederick County.

Throughout the weekend you can explore over 150 exhibitors, meet professionals in new home building, home improvement, financing, landscaping, decorating, smart energy, garden and much more. Whether you are looking to replace your gutters, repair your roof, improve the air quality in your home, make over your bathroom, build a deck, find financing or build a custom home, you will find a variety of businesses to help you with these projects and beyond!

What can children expect?

Family fun starts in the Kids’ Fun Zone. The children’s building is where children of all ages can enjoy Ruppert Landscape’s garden activities, live music from Mr. Jon & Friends, Captain Silly Bones’ Pirate Magic Show and an appearance by the Frederick Keys’ Keyote. And, be sure to participate in the exciting Expo Scavenger Hunt for young children to have fun visiting a variety of booths, collecting stickers and securing a prize! 

What can exhibitors expect?

Thousands of visitors will show up throughout the weekend! FCIBA provides a variety of businesses to be their neighboring booths and the Million Dollar Networking Breakfast on Sunday morning, sponsored by Frederick Lifestyle. This opportunity for business-to-business connections builds lasting relationships and exposure for our exhibitors throughout the year.

What is the Builder Olympics?

FCBIA is most proud to put on display the Frederick County Career & Technology (CTC) Builder Olympics. Students from the Frederick County community participate over two days in showcasing the skilled trades in carpentry, electrical, plumbing, HVAC and sheet metal. Teams will construct sheds that will be available for sale after the event. Additional teams of students will be creating landscapes with bricks, bedding, flowers and more, in a competition to demonstrate their ability to create living outdoor art.

The Builder Olympics is one of many programs that FCBIA champions in order to support workforce development in Frederick County. It is more important now than ever to support education and the pursuit of a career in the skilled trades. With the lack of classrooms, instructors and programming, it is difficult to meet the demand for anyone who wishes to take courses in the building industry. The job market reflects a depleted workforce of essential employees needed to build, fix, maintain and grow our infrastructure. FCBIA hopes to increase awareness and encourage guests who attend the Expo to pursue a career for themselves or their children in the skilled trades. 

This is our calling card to the community!  Join us March 16th – 17th at the Frederick Fairgrounds to visit with exhibitors, enjoy the entertainment, grab a bite to eat and support the trades. 

FrederickExpo.org

The Frederick Home & Garden Expo is FCBIA’s love letter to the great trades and home services that keep our homes, businesses, and infrastructure performing.  We thank the trades for the roof over our heads, heat in our homes, and water to cook. FCBIA is working hard to promote the trades in the built environment in business relationships and workforce development.

Event Times:

Saturday, March 16th

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Sunday, March 17th

10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

FrederickBuilders.org

  • Local students create landscapes with bricks, bedding and flowers as part of the CTC Builder Olympics.
  • FCBIA Board Member Tony Checchia (VCRE.CO) and Mayor Michael O'Connor enjoy the exhibits.
  • One of the many exhibitors at the Home & Garden show.
  • The Frederick County Chamber of Commerce leads the ribbon cutting ceremony to launch the Home & Garden Show.
  • Crystal McGuire, owner of WinSupply, wins best exhibit display in 2023.
  • Exhibitors connect at the Million Dollar Networking Breakfast.
  • Frederick Keys' Keyote visits the Kids' Fun Zone.
  • Local students participate in the Frederick County Career & Technology (CTC) Builder Olympics.