By Peter Covino

Entertainment Editor

You really can make your home your castle at the 2011 Central Florida Home & Garden Show returning to the Orange County Convention Center this weekend.

The home and garden show has proven to be one of the most popular stops for Central Floridians to get all the latest information on remodeling projects inside the home and good advice on how to make their garden a showplace in the neighborhood.

Consumers can find one-stop shopping and great entertainment in one  location at show, being held this year at  Hall North B at the Orange County Convention Center’s North/South complex off Universal Boulevard.  

The home and garden show is Central Florida’s original, longest-running home improvement event and also has the area’s largest selection of the latest products and services for virtually every area of the home, indoors and out.

One of the major drawbacks  for all convention center events is the high cost of parking.  For the first time, consumers can get a free parking pass (while supplies last) through the show’s partnership with Hometalk .com. (Visit www.hometalk.com /orlandoshow to obtain a pass).  And as usual, the show features many celebrity guests.

Returning crowd pleasers include celebrity appearances and the edible Orlando Cooking Stage with many of the area’s top chefs dishing up delicious samples and tips.

With the economy looking a bit better, consumers are beginning to plan to resume major home improvement projects previously set aside due to the economic downturn, according to a national survey by Marketplace Events, the nation’s largest producer of home shows, including the Central Florida Home & Garden Show and Orlando Home Show.  

Among the notable findings:  nearly half of all survey respondents plan to complete a major landscaping or patio/deck project compared to 33 percent in 2008.

“These survey results are encouraging as we gear up for our eighth springtime show,” said Jerry Rullo, Orlando show manager for Marketplace Events.  “We have witnessed the ‘staycation’ trend for several years now, where residents are investing in their backyards, rather than on travel.  With consumer confidence rising, we anticipate a great turnout.  Local residents can find inspiration in more than 6,000 square feet of gardens and meet with hundreds of experts to get the most bang from their home improvement buck.”

Special guests this year incude HGTV’s Divine Design painting expert Andrew Downward. He will appear  on the main stage today (Saturday) at  noon and 3 p.m. and tomorrow  at 1 and 4 p.m.  Downward also will offer free five-minute consultations throughout the weekend in the Color Wheel booth.  First-come, first served, and space is limited.

Guests can meet the stars and hear the music at Saturday Night Country, presented by K92FM.  Live music kicks off at 4 p.m. with Orlando’s Abbie Lynn, followed at 5 p.m. with Daytona Beach’s Mandy Brooke.  Then at 6 p.m., country music star and RCA recording artist Chuck Wicks takes the stage for a one-hour acoustic set, followed by an autograph signing session.  Also performing throughout the weekend will be  Central Florida vocalist Naome Bradshaw.  The Backyard area will also feature  beer samples and barbecue for purchase throughout the weekend.

For home improvement help, Gaard Swanson, co-anchor of WKMG Local 6 news  and former host of HGTV’s Generation Renovation will present on the main stage on Saturday only at 2 p.m. with advice on how to get started.  

Consumers who missed the recent Metro Orlando’s Parade of Homes can meet with representatives from many of Central Florida’s top home building companies on Saturday on the Parade of Homes Builder Boulevard to get information and advice on the newest opportunities in Central Florida.  Throughout the weekend, guests can walk along the Builder Boulevard  and meet with experts who will answer their questions on topics ranging from finance to foreclosure.  The HBA will also host expert seminars on our main stage throughout the weekend.

If you would rather eat than redecorate or talk about homes, there will be plenty of opportunities to get dining tips and sample food as well  the edible Orlando Cooking Stage.  Chefs from The Wave of American Flavors at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Harmoni Market, Old Hickory Steakhouse at the Gaylord Palms Resort, CRAVE Restaurant, The Bella Collina Club, Cuisiniers Catered Cuisine & Events, Spencer’s for Steaks and Chops at the Hilton Orlando, Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, Boheme Restaurant at the Grand Bohemian Hotel, Dragonfly Robata Grill and Sushi, and Whole Foods Market will all make appearances.

Garden fanciers will find everthing from the makings of a modern day victory garden or a flower bed to hints for the perfect lawn.

There will be more than 6,000 square feet of lushly landscaped spaces and meet with some of the area’s leading experts in gardening, landscaping, water features and supplies, including A & R Landscaping and Lighting, Blodgett Gardens & Nursery, Hoffner Nursery and Landscape, Knox Nursery, Paradise Outdoor Living, Pondtastic Water Gardens, Royal Mulch, S&S Landscaping and Smithwell.  Landscape Supply will also be back at the show with a huge retail display of garden supplies, from mulch to trimmers.

Garden guests include WDBO’s Robert Vincent Simms, “The Garden Rebel,” on stage at noon on Sunday. There also will be a  Disney topiary display inspired by the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival.

Other features include a chance to win a Playoff Experience Package and other  prizes while supporting the mission of the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation; and the opportunity to explore space at NASA’s Interactive Booth and Mobile Planetarium.  

“The Central Florida Home & Garden Show offers an abundance of opportunities to bring fresh ideas home,”  Rullo said. “Even if you don’t have a specific project on your radar, our show is still a fun day out and has something to offer everyone.”

Show hours are  Saturday, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m, and Sunday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.  Tickets are available at the door, and are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors (60-plus) and students and free for children 12 years and younger.  Admission is only $5 after 5 p.m. Saturday.  Advance tickets can be purchased online for a $3 discount off full-price $10 admission at www.OrlandoHomeShow.com.  Parking is available adjacent to the Orange County Convention Center off Universal Boulevard, and is $8 per car.  For more information, visit www.OrlandoHomeShow.com, or call 877-871-SHOW (7469).