TBA devotes months to planning annual event

During the 12 days of Homearama at The Waterfront at Parkside this month, a small army of folks will be ensuring everything runs smoothly.

But before that, besides those building the seven display homes, a lot of folks were also involved in setting up the annual Tidewater Builders Association event.

“This really is a six-to-eight-month process,” said Teresa Howell, logistics manager with the association.

“We have to determine the parking, the traffic plan, then once we know where the houses are going to be, we can determine where our tent can go.”

Called the Idea Market Place, the tent will be populated with vendors showcasing the latest in home ideas.

Much as they would if they were exiting through the gift shop of a museum, visitors will enter and leave the event via the tent.

“We have a shorter distance to work with this year in the exhibit tent,” said the association’s special projects staff vice president, Jean McCullough. “But there are a lot more people out in the raw space this year.”

Sanitation needs are another consideration for those organizing Homearama, Howell said. Planners need to determine where to put toilets and the number of hand-washing stations.

Security is always an important aspect of planning an event like Homearama. A private security company is used, while off-duty Suffolk police officers will be are hired for some of the more important tasks.

“Of course, we have to get all the permits, just like builders do,” Howell said. “The main priority for me is safety, not just for vendors, but for people working out here.”

Tony Midgett, of electrical contractors It’s Electric Inc., has to ensure the 11 power panels are safe. Five of them provide 200-amp service, and six provide 100-amp service.

Once installed, “We’ll go to each one and make sure they are up to code,” Midgett said. “We drop a conduit down for the power company.”

The event will also include a miniature train, dubbed Tinyrama, which children and adults can ride.

On the first Friday night, the band Hotcakes will be playing at Bennett’s Creek Park from 6 to 9:30 p.m. so organizers planned the flow of foot traffic around the Homearama site to ensure that visitors notice the adjacent park and all that’s happening there, too.

“The first weekend is all about Suffolk,” McCullough said. “The city of Suffolk is wonderful to work with.” The event also showcases the city, she added.

While the event is running, McCullough said, five or six association staff members are on the ground.

“We are constantly on the site,” she said. “It’s a lot to try to stay on top of — you are going the whole time the show is going. We come out here at 8 a.m., and the show doesn’t start until noon.”

On an average day, 2,000 to 3,000 people come through a Homearama site, McCullough said.

“I have been here for 27 years, and if we have decent weather for this show, I feel this will be the best Homearama we have had.”