October 3-5, 2025

Alamodome

Save Coupon

FRESH IDEAS STAGE SCHEDULE

Join us at the heart of the show for a lineup of engaging presentations, expert advice, and hands-on demonstrations designed to spark your creativity. From celebrity appearances and local cultural showcases to gardening gurus and home improvement pros, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re looking to revamp your space, learn new DIY skills, or just soak in the inspiration, the Fresh Ideas Stage is your go-to destination all weekend long. Don’t miss a moment—check out the schedule below!

Stage Sponsored By:

This year's stage is decorated & staged (ha!) by our amazing partners:

Friday

Oct. 3rd

San Antonio Pets Alive

2:00 PM

From Kennels to Couches: The Power of Fostering

San Antonio Pets Alive

San Antonio Pets Alive! is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Due to alarming euthanasia rates, San Antonio Pets Alive! (SAPA!) was founded in 2011. SAPA! is unique—it is the only high-paced, high-volume rescue in San Antonio, saving 5,500 at-risk cats and dogs from euthanasia annually.

Since its inception, SAPA! has saved more than 75,000+ dogs and cats. SAPA! provides safety nets for the dogs and cats that fall through the cracks of all other lifesaving options and end up on the euthanasia list at the city shelter, often with just hours to be saved. SAPA! promotes the availability of these dogs and cats to other rescues, adopters, and fosters.

Our mission is to provide the programs and services needed to eliminate the killing of at-risk animals due to lack of space, adopter or foster

Amy Fulkerson San Antonio's Office of Historic Preservation

3:00 PM

Historic Architecture in San Antonio

Amy Fulkerson San Antonio's Office of Historic Preservation

Speaker Bio:

As a historian and Senior Historic Preservation Specialist, Amy loves to share the stories of San Antonio’s historic neighborhoods and architectural styles that contribute to the city’s cultural landscape.

Description:

You may have noticed there are many historic homes in San Antonio with various architectural styles. Join us to learn the names and defining features of common residential architectural styles in SA. You’ll also discover when and why these styles appeared in our city and where to find resources to learn more about your own home. Your guide will be Amy Fulkerson, Senior Historic Preservation Specialist.

HGTV's Dave & Jenny Marrs

4:00 PM

HGTV's Dave & Jenny Marrs

Dave and Jenny Marrs are a husband-and-wife duo who turn fixer uppers to fabulous homes. They even have their own show called “Fixer to Fabulous” on HGTV. They focus on restoring historic homes in their neighborhood of Bentonville, Arkansas. Together, they have completed around 300 custom new homes and run Marrs Developing, a company that specializes in the renovation and restoration of historic homes in the Northwest Arkansas area. Dave does all the heavy lifting and Jenn does the design. They face many challenges, but there is nothing this duo can’t handle.

Jenny is the creative backbone of their renovations and specializes in designing spaces that are welcoming and inviting. She believes a home is a reflection of the family who lives there, and sometimes, the most beautiful spaces are imperfect and full of character. Dave is an expert craftsman, builder, general contractor and all-around handyman. His knowledge of restoring old homes is unrivaled and his passion for bringing out the charm of historic homes is contagious.

Jenny and Dave have 5 kids: twin boys (Nathan and Ben), two daughters (Sylvie, who was adopted from the Congo and Charlotte) and Luke, who’s growing up at the speed of light. Things have tended to come in twos for the Marrs family. First, it was twins, and then around the same time their 3rd child was born, they adopted a 2.5 year old. It was a sigh of relief for them to have their last child to come into this world alone! They now live on a blueberry farm in Arkansas and donate the proceeds to non-profit work in Zimbabwe where they have an agricultural training program, training orphaned teens who need life skills because they haven’t been plugged into school.

Gardopia Gardens

5:00 PM

Grow Your Own Grocery Aisle; What to Plant in Fall to Feed You!

Gary Irish

6:00 PM

Gardening on the Dry Side of Texas

Citrus Tree Auction

7:00 PM

Citrus Tree Auction with the Gardening Volunteers of South Texas

Citrus Tree Auction

Join the Gardening Volunteers of South Texas for a zesty few days of bidding, fun and the chance to take home a living piece of citrus splendor. Your backyard—and your taste buds—will thank you!

Get ready to add a burst of sunshine to your home with the incredible selection of citrus trees that will be auctioned off right at the show. Auction dates and times:

Friday, October 3: 7:00pm
Saturday, October 4: 1:30pm
Sunday, October 5: 3:00pm

Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, this is your chance to bid on a variety of citrus trees with proceeds benefitting the Gardening Volunteers of South Texas!

Saturday

Oct. 4th

Ashley Bird Blooming With Birdie

11:00 AM

Attracting Monarchs & More: Gardening for Wildlife

Ashley Bird Blooming With Birdie

Blooming with Birdie creates imaginative, hands-on learning experiences that connect people to nature in joyful and meaningful ways. Rooted in Montessori principles and a passion for immersive education, founder Ashley Bird blends creativity, accessibility, and curiosity to spark real-world action. Now in its 10th year, their flagship Monarch Butterfly and Pollinators Festival brings together over 40 mission-aligned partners in a community-wide celebration. Blooming with Birdie’s signature interactive installations—like the The People as Pollinators Experiment, The Monarch Migration Obstacle Course, The Bird City Light's Out Maze and more—invite people of all ages to explore and engage with the natural world. In her talk, “Attracting Monarchs & More: Gardening for Wildlife,” Ashley guides you through a playful, experiential journey that shows how any outdoor space can become a thriving habitat—and how you can help build a better future for monarchs, pollinators, and the planet.

HGTV's Dave & Jenny Marrs

12:00 PM

HGTV's Dave & Jenny Marrs

Citrus Tree Auction

1:30 PM

Citrus Tree Auction with the Gardening Volunteers of South Texas

Citrus Tree Auction

Join the Gardening Volunteers of South Texas for a zesty few days of bidding, fun and the chance to take home a living piece of citrus splendor. Your backyard—and your taste buds—will thank you!

Get ready to add a burst of sunshine to your home with the incredible selection of citrus trees that will be auctioned off right at the show. Auction dates and times:

Friday, October 3: 7:00pm
Saturday, October 4: 1:30pm
Sunday, October 5: 3:00pm

Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, this is your chance to bid on a variety of citrus trees with proceeds benefitting the Gardening Volunteers of South Texas!

Gardopia Gardens

2:00 PM

Garden RX: Growing Food Supporting Health!

Class Act Performing Arts

3:00 PM

San Antonio Food Bank

4:00 PM

From First Farm To The Future!

San Antonio Food Bank

From First Farm to The Future! - From the earliest cultivated farmland in the USA to preserving its culture and now looking ahead! Learn about the SAFB seed library, drought-resistant crops, and how to grow foods that are both resilient and delicious.

In a unique partnership with the National Park Service, the San Antonio Food Bank cultivates 45 acres of farmland at Mission San Juan, with an additional 5 acres dedicated to a historic demonstration garden. Using irrigation from the 300-year-old acequia, the farm replicates traditional agricultural methods once used by Mission inhabitants, preserving the region’s rich farming heritage while producing fresh, nutritious food.

Harvested produce is distributed through various Food Bank programs, ensuring families facing food insecurity have access to healthy, locally grown fruits and vegetables. The demonstration garden also serves as an educational space, offering visitors hands-on learning about traditional farming techniques, native crops, and sustainable agriculture. By blending history with modern hunger relief efforts, this partnership strengthens the community, honors the past, and nourishes the future.

San Antonio Food Bank

4:30 PM

Decoding Your Pantry & Live Cooking Demo

Charley Fisher Urban Garden Plants

5:00 PM

Urban Permaculture

Charley Fisher Urban Garden Plants

Urban Garden Plants formally Urban Garden Project was founded by avid seed collector and garden educator, Charley Fisher. Her passion for finding rare, collectable heirloom seeds led her to create a seed share project with fellow collectors and small-scale seed farmers.

Charley has the advantage of being raised by farmers and growing up in the gardens of her maternal and paternal grandmothers. Her childhood was peppered with fond memories of foraging on her family’s land and learning horticulture and plant science, firsthand. Little did she know those many years ago that gardening would become her passion and life’s work. Charley’s work is centered around health and wellness through food sovereignty. Her mission is to make gardening accessible and fight the epidemic of food insecurity.

Since its inception, Charley and the team at Urban Garden Plants have worked tirelessly in underserved communities to help budding gardeners gain the knowledge they need to secure a food supply for their families. Urban Garden Plants hosts gardening classes, workshops, and lectures on a host of topics including patio and container gardening, indoor gardening, heirloom seeds, seed saving, edible gardens, urban farming, companion gardening, organic pest management, and community garden management.

Gods Dogs Rescue

6:00 PM

Good Dog 101: A Guide to Training & Adding Pets to Your Home!

Oct. 5th

San Antonio Food Bank

12:00 PM

Community Volunteering; Hearing from those on The Ground!

Gardopia Gardens

2:00 PM

Gardens That Give Back; Starting A Community Garden!

Citrus Tree Auction

3:00 PM

Citrus Tree Auction with the Gardening Volunteers of South Texas

Citrus Tree Auction

Join the Gardening Volunteers of South Texas for a zesty few days of bidding, fun and the chance to take home a living piece of citrus splendor. Your backyard—and your taste buds—will thank you!

Get ready to add a burst of sunshine to your home with the incredible selection of citrus trees that will be auctioned off right at the show. Auction dates and times:

Friday, October 3: 7:00pm
Saturday, October 4: 1:30pm
Sunday, October 5: 3:00pm

Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, this is your chance to bid on a variety of citrus trees with proceeds benefitting the Gardening Volunteers of South Texas!

Hearts & Home: Adoptable Pup Showcase

3:30 PM

Hearts & Home: Adoptable Pup Showcase

Get ready for a tail-wagging good time at the San Antonio Spring Home Show! Join us on Sunday, October 5th for Hearts & Home: San Antonio’s Adoptable Pup Showcase, where adoptable dogs from local rescues will strut their stuff on the runway. These four-legged stars will charm the audience with their unique personalities, fun facts, and irresistible looks. Cheer for your favorite pup and help love on each pup of the show in this heartwarming competition. Whether you’re a dog lover, a future adopter, or just looking for a feel-good event, this cute showcase is sure to delight! Don't miss the chance to meet these lovable pups and find your next best friend.

Here are some of the amazing adoptable pups who will be looking fabulous as they showcase on the stage this year! :

(Heads up - if you fall in love with just a glance, you can adopt them RIGHT NOW!)

LINKS COMING SOON!

Cory Edwards San Antonio's Office of Historic Preservation

3:00 PM

Benefits Of Historic Home Preservation

Cory Edwards San Antonio's Office of Historic Preservation

Speaker bio:

As the Deputy Historic Preservation Officer with the City of San Antonio Office of Historic Preservation, Cory has led the development and adoption of historic design guidelines, new zoning overlay districts, and improvements to the local development code and processes related to the treatment of historic properties. One of his missions is to expand the narrative of what historic preservation offers beyond regulatory review, seeking ways to integrate building reuse principles into local policy surrounding affordable housing, economic development, and environmental sustainability.

Description:

San Antonio is full of historic homes. Learn why historic preservation is important, and the benefits it offers to our community. Cory Edwards, Deputy Historic Preservation Officer, will guide share how our department preserves the character that we love about San Antonio and some of the incentives of doing so.