WILTON – Organizers of two weekend shows in Wilton and Farmington claimed success Monday after thousands of people passed through the doors.
Gil Reed, an co-organizer of the Pine Tree State Sportsman Show in Wilton, said more than 7,500 people visited the show between Friday and Sunday.
“Without a doubt we are now the largest sportsman show in the state of Maine, not necessary for the number of people that walked through here but for the exhibitors and space,” Reed said. “It’s probably the largest show north of Boston.”
Many vendors have signed up and some have already put down deposits to participate in the show next year, he said, which is tentatively scheduled for March 24-26.
He said 85 to 90 percent of the vendor surveys were positive, and the ones that were not were constructive. It was mostly things that they had already learned needed fixing for next year, Reed said.
The exhibition space is expected to increase next year by 13,000 square feet to make it closer to 2 acres of showroom, Reed said.
He went around and talked to area businesses, Reed said, and they all indicated they were busy this weekend from the influx of people. He also had three calls Monday looking to rent the Bob Nichols Expo Center for different events, he said.
In Farmington, Deb Flight, executive director of the Franklin County Chamber, said the Home and Leisure Show on Saturday was attended by 2,400 people.
“It was spectacular,” she said.
She credited great weather and people wanting to get out after being cooped up during the winter for part of the success.
It was the first year that she has had a waiting list for vendor spaces, Flight said.
The exhibitors put a lot of thought into their booths this year, she said, and there were a lot of different exhibitions to visit.
Comments are no longer available on this story