This show is a little different than the traveling roadshow woodworking shows. They don't come to Charlotte, NC any more either. All we have here now is this one show a year, near the end of October every year, and it has been repeated every year for 18 years now. This show is entirely put on by The Klingspore Workshops which is a small chain of 4 stores that are located in or very near some of the larger cities of central NC. They also have a catalog and online sales operation. Their headquarters and original store is in Hickory and this show is also held in Hickory every year.
The show has about 40 vendor displays and demonstrations, free classes including 1 on 1 training, discounts on most purchases, and the area woodworking clubs are all invited to set up booths where they do demonstrations and sales of members projects. About 25% of the show space is also set aside for craft displays that are judged with prizes. There are also door prizes, with the grand prize being a $1,500 Klingspore gift card this year.
Over the years I have won several items at these shows, but nothing big. For me it was several woodworking books that I have enjoyed very much. One of our woodworking club's members won the $1,000 Gift card that was given away last year, and if I remember right, he bought himself a new lathe with it.
I've only missed 3 of shows in the 18 years that it's been running. I was in the hospital for two of them, and my car broke down on the way to one of them. It takes something like this to keep me away. I usually like to be there on Friday, opening day, but this year I am missing being there today because I have tile contractors remaking one of my bathrooms. But I'm going to be there tomorrow if at all possible.
Go to
www.woodworkingextravaganza.com to see information about the show, and go to
www.woodworkingshop.com to see their online catalog or request a full color mailed catalog. They are great people to deal with, and this is the voice of my own personal experience with them.
@DesertRatTom, If you fly into Charlotte tonight, I'll pick you up and take you to the show tomorrow morning, then bring you back to the airport after the show for you to fly back home.
Charley