Country Living magazine launches fair at Chicago Botanic Garden         

[SEPT. 30, 2006]  NEW YORK -- Country Living magazine is bringing the first-ever Country Living Fair to the Chicago area on Oct. 6-9. The fair, taking place in tents on the fall grounds of the Chicago Botanic Garden, will bring the pages of the magazine to life, offering visitors the opportunity to fully experience the country living lifestyle.

More than 100 exhibitors from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom will display and sell custom-built, hand-painted and antique furniture; folk art and toys; quilts; hooked rugs; specialty foods; and more.

Over 12,000 visitors are expected to attend and enjoy the weekend's crafting and seasonally themed demonstrations.

Highlights

• Country Living editors and contributors will demonstrate pumpkin carving, holiday table setting, potato stamping and autumn cake decorating.

• Fair attendees will have the opportunity to submit photos of their homes to Country Living editors for a chance to be featured in an upcoming issue.

• Baking enthusiasts can submit a homemade pie to be judged by a Country Living panel. Register for the contest in advance at www.countryliving.com.

• Helaine Fendelman, a Country Living contributor and author, will host a live "What is it? What is it Worth?" appraisal event.

• Book signings will be available with Country Living editors as well as authors Barbara Kemp and Margaret Shaw, Kathy Moses, and Helaine Fendelman.

• Country Living Specialty Foods will debut, with tastings of sweet and savory products.

• David T. Smith will lead a workshop on "Kitchen Design: The Historic Home" and "Hiding the Necessities in an Historic Home.

• A host of children's activities will include a straw maze and face painting.

Country Living Fair hours will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A four-day pass is $12 with advance purchase or $15 at the door. A 12-month subscription to Country Living magazine can be added for $5 more. Children 16 and under are admitted free. Purchase advance tickets at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 866-500-FAIR, or www.chicagobotanic.org/countryliving. Parking is $12; free for members.

For more information, call 866-500-FAIR or visit www.countryliving.com.

About Country Living

Country Living is the No. 1-selling shelter magazine at newsstands. It focuses on a variety of topics, including decorating, antiques, cooking, travel, remodeling and gardens. Country Living is published by Hearst Magazines, a unit of Hearst Corporation and one of the world's largest publishers of monthly magazines, with a total of 18 U.S. titles and 145 international editions. Hearst's magazines are also read by more U.S. adult women than any other monthly magazine publisher.

[Hearst news release]