T-R FILE PHOTO The Times-Republican Home and Garden Show will be held this Saturday at the Marshalltown Mall.

Spring has arrived, and now is the time of year many homeowners begin to think of ways to spruce up the garden or make additions to the house.

“It’s the fifth year we’ve done it,” said Times-Republican Assistant Marketing Director Deanna Davis of the 2017 T-R Home and Garden Show to take place at the Marshalltown Mall 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Davis said this year’s event will bring familiar vendors as well as new businesses.

“We are so excited, we have several returning vendors that have been with us for many years, and the rest are new,” she said, adding there will be well over a dozen new vendors for a total of 37 at the show.

Seminars will be held during the event as well, and visitors will be able to hear advice and get ideas for their homes and gardens.

“There will be a big variety of topics,” Davis said.

Speakers will include a Hy-Vee dietician, construction specialist, a real estate expert and a design specialist, among others. All seminars are scheduled for time slots between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Additionally, the Miller Middle School eighth grade choir is set to perform at 1 p.m.

Davis said there will be activities to keep the kids busy while their parents and guardians peruse the vendors and hear the seminars.

One of the activities, Isle of Greens’ “Plant your own little plant,” will allow children the chance to try a bit of gardening. The T-R will sponsor “Color a spring Easter picture,” as well, and children will be able to take both their plant and their art home with them.

The Easter Bunny will be available for pictures with the kids as well, and parents are encouraged to bring their cameras to capture the moment.

Meanwhile, adult visitors will have a chance to take home something of their own.

“They can register to win one of four Fareway gift cards, each for $50,” Davis said.

Davis said it’s hoped that this year’s Home and Garden Show will see the biggest attendance in the event’s five-year history. She said it’s good to see so many businesses come in to try the Marshalltown market, and to see plenty of businesses returning because of the positive experiences they’ve had in the past.

Vendors from Marshalltown will be available, and the towns of Gladbrook, Cedar Rapids, Urbandale, Grundy Center, Dysart, Des Moines, Melbourne, Garwin, Granger, Grimes, Marion, Cedar Falls, Grinnell and Toledo are to be represented as well.

There will also be vendors from Omaha, Neb. and Ohio at the event.

Admission is free.

For more information, call Deanna Davis at 641-753-6611

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Contact Adam Sodders at (641) 753-6611 or asodders@timesrepublican.com