Spring in Pittsburgh always brings rain showers, budding leaves — and the annual Pittsburgh Home & Garden Show.

Now in its 42nd year, the show, which typically attracts close to 300,000 visitors, kicked off March 8 and ends March 17 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Downtown. 

Those looking for inspiration for their abodes can check out more than 1,500 exhibits spread across 10 acres. From the luxury to the basics, the event showcases home products for visitors to see, touch, try and to buy — all accompanied by the experts who can explain, assist, demonstrate and answer questions.

Among the annual features at the show are:

• Dream Home Innovation Center, bringing interactive products and ideas to make home life easier and sustainable.
• The Kitchen Idea Center, with more than an acre of dream kitchen inspiration.
• The Ultimate Backyard
• The Construction & Remodeling Center
• Home Interior Galleries, featuring more than 300 firms explaining the latest home trends that can be brought into your home.
• The Food & Wine Festival, including samples of foods, wine and whiskey. 
• The Pets at Home Aisle, with cats, dogs, fish and birds to meet or adopt, and pet accessories. 

Don’t be afraid to bring the kids to the event. In addition to The Children’s Village, the family-friendly activities at the convention include displays from the Train Collectors Association and a Lego display by Steel City LUG collector’s society. 

Rebuilding its presence since the pandemic, the show continues to grow with new vendors, among them JDM Structures, which is bringing the Sierra Cabin, one of its lake house-style modular homes, to the second floor of the convention center. Also new for 2024 is Allscapes Patio and Landscape, which specializes in custom patios, heavy-duty motorized pergolas, hidden motorized compartments and secret underground features, as well as Aquatic Edge, which is adding a natural water display to the mix.

Joining this year’s event as special guest speakers are Laura Dowling, a former White House chief floral designer, and Mark Bowe, host of Magnolia Network’s “Barnwood Builders.”

Dowling spent six years managing White House floral designs for official and private events such as the White House Christmas. Bowe and his group of craftsmen from West Virginia started a documentary series where they rebuild and repurpose old barns and structures to give them new life. Also the founder of Barnwood Living, Bowe will share his passion for reclaiming pioneer-era craftsmanship at the show on March 15 -17. 

Each day, The Farm to Table Stage also will host several different experts, including seminars on  edible flowers, composting or even saving money with local growers. 

In honor of the home and garden show’s late founder, John DeSantis, who died in early 2022, his son and current executive director, Mark Moore, is bringing back the John DeSantis River View Café, which combines more than a dozen dining options during the show. 

Tickets for the show are $12 for adults ($11 if purchased online), $4 for children ages 6-12 and free for children younger than 6. Show hours are Monday through Thursday from 4 to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit here.