Community Focused Home and Garden Show | Exhibit, Meet Experts and Shop

We sat down with Perry Payne Millner, our producing partner for the Love My Home: Greater Lynchburg Home & Garden Show, coming up February 14-17, 2019 here in Lynchburg. This exciting, three-day event will be held in the former Macy’s space at River Ridge Mall and will offer visitors an easy, interactive way to learn, compare and shop from dozens of local and national vendors and experts in remodeling, home improvements, interior design, kitchen and bath, gardening, outdoor spaces, historic preservation, lifestyle and culture, all under one roof. This multi-faceted event is produced in partnership with HOME magazine, Perry Payne Presents and River Ridge Mall. A portion of proceeds will benefit the Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation. For details as well as sponsorship, advertising, and exhibitor information, visit lovemylynchburghome.com.

Let’s talk a little bit about the Home and Garden Show. How did the event come about?
I had lunch at the Virginian Hotel the week after it opened with Julie Pierce, HOME magazine publisher, who was thinking of producing a home and garden show for Lynchburg and Central Virginia next spring. I love designing exciting programming and presenting artists in interesting venues, and we dreamed up this wonderful, inclusive and LOCAL event. So many of the home and garden expos around the country are very much alike; we wanted ours to be different, to be local and reflective of the styles and sensibilities of Lynchburg, with its rich history and multifaceted community. We imagined a large exhibit area offering home, garden and lifestyle resources, vendors and specialists. We would add three days of exciting speakers, workshops and presentations on an action-packed Expo stage. Finally, we agreed that this show would include an element of public good.

We started talking about the event with our friends and colleagues and they got as excited as we are! River Ridge Mall offered us the former Macy’s space which we found could hold up to 135 exhibitors, twenty smaller gift spaces, and a Love My Home Stage with media, lights and sound. We chose the Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation as our community partner, and were on our way!

Do you have any guest artists or special speakers coming?
Boy, do we ever! I called my friend Doug Wilson from TV’s Trading Spaces, who is excited to headline the event; next on our list were Dallas interior designer John Phifer Marrs, real estate stager Melanie Bias of Southern Charm Staging in Atlanta, and John Paul Hugelin, founder of the American College of the Building Arts in Charleston. The stage programming will be rounded out with workshops, speakers and panel discussions by local specialists, presenters, vendors and creatives who will offer great ideas and resources for making the most of your Lynchburg home, garden and lifestyle!

The Macy’s space is huge! How will it be set up?
That has been one of the most fun aspects to creating this show. There is simply room for everything we can dream up, with easy and ample parking. There is space for landscape features, demonstrations, 135 exhibit booths, and 20 spaces for local gift shops and businesses. We are planning DIY Make It/Take It sessions, an Antiques Road Show-style appraisal event we’re calling For What It’s Worth, and a gift section featuring products available for sale on the spot from local shops and businesses. Vendors, specialists and product representatives will be on hand at exhibit booths to answer questions and offer products and services for the entire three day event.

What is the tie-in with the Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation?
There will be a special preview event from 5-7:30 on Valentine’s Day to benefit the Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation. A portion of proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the Foundation as well.

Is there anything else you want us to know?
We’re looking for vendors, advertisers, and exhibitors! We’re looking for speakers, panelists and experts on absolutely everything related to resources for home design and improvement, garden and lifestyle, just about anything— the sky’s the limit!

Where should we go for more information?
The most up-to-date information is on our website: lovemylynchburghome.com. Day passes and all-access weekend passes are available through the website, as well as information about being an exhibitor or submitting ideas for a presentation or workshop. Mark your calendars now for Valentine’s weekend 2019, and don’t miss the Love My Home: Greater Lynchburg Home & Garden Show. We’ll see you in February at River Ridge Mall!