FIRE AND ICE: The Landscape and Snow Expo

Get ready for a high-energy event packed with live action, education, and connection. This year’s Fire & Ice is revving up with the theme: Demonstration Derby — and you’re invited to be part of the excitement!

🔧 Live Demonstrations Include:
1. Tree Planting, Pruning & Felling
2. Native Plant Design Techniques
3. Excavators in Action
4. PLUS: Over 100 exhibitors showcasing equipment, plants, products and more!

📚 In the Field Education:
1. Sensory Gardens & Inclusive Playgrounds
2. Prairie Plant Identification
3. Natural Land Maintenance Best Practices
4. Hands-On Snow Training for Safety & Equipment Use
5. Bridging the Gap Between Snow & Sales Teams

🌿 Back by Popular Demand:
Container Wars is taking the stage at Fire & Ice!

SCHEDULE

7:30am
Registration Opens/Badge Pick Up
Check in for the Demonstration Derby at the registration tent where you will pick up a name badge, lunch ticket and gear!

8:00am
Show Opens

9:00am-9:45am
Bridging the Gap Between Snow Sales & Operations
Presented by: Tom Marsan, The Beverly Companies

9:00am-10:00am
Tree Pruning Demonstration
Presented by: Brian Malatia, Manu Gamez, The Morton Arboretum
Structural pruning of young trees is an important practice to help promote strong architecture in the crown and make trees more resilient to storms. Please join us for this demonstration as we walk through the steps of properly pruning trees to get them off to a good start.

9:00am-10:00am
Native Plant Layout & Design
Step right up and try your hand at laying out a native plant garden! We will provide a collection of sun and shade plants and a planting grid. Participants just need to bring their bare hands and a vision. Members of the Sustainable Committee will be on hand to workshop your ideas or just have some friendly conversation among native plant enthusiasts! This interactive opportunity gives you the chance to touch, feel, smell, move, and adjust native plants to create your own successful native garden given site conditions. Then we shake it up like an Etch-A-Sketch and do it all over again.

9:15am-10:00am
High Format Demo
Come see High Format install their largest precast modular block (PMB) wall firsthand! This Grand Ledge Wall Installation has the look and efficiency to stand out in the landscape industry.

9:30am
Autonomous Mower Demonstrations Begin
Come see the future in autonomous mowers!

10:00am
Gnome Hunt Begins!

10:00am-11:00am
Clear the Way: Snow Removal Essentials
Presented by: Paul Washburn, Goodmark Nurseries; Michael Clarke
Dining Tent B

Snow removal essentials will focus on preparing individuals or teams to safely and efficiently remove snow. The topics will include discussing safety procedures, equipment, route planning & prioritization, deicing, weather monitoring and communication all to remove snow and make a profit.

10:00am-11:00am
Container Wars
Join the thrilling Container War, where creativity meets chaos as participants design stunning containers using available plant material and soil. Unleash your imagination and showcase your skills in this fun competition! Attendees will vote for their favorite designs, and fantastic prizes await the creators of the best containers. Don’t miss this chance to demonstrate your passion and win!

10:00am-11:00am
Walking the Talk: Native & Prairie Plant Walk
Join us for a dynamic walking session through a sustainable landscape designed with native and prairie plants. This interactive tour will focus on plant identification and share real-world strategies for maintaining these species in both residential and commercial settings. Led by industry professionals, this session offers hands-on learning in the field—perfect for those looking to deepen their knowledge of naturalized landscapes and low-maintenance planting strategies.

11:00am
Beer Tent Opens
SPONSORED BY: THE TREE CONNECTION

11:00am-1:00pm
Lunch
Served in Dining Tents A and B

11:30am-2:00pm
Kona Ice Truck
SPONSORED BY: GOODMARK NURSERIES

12:00pm-1:00pm
Tree Planting Demonstration
Presented by: Rachel White, Jose Luis Lopez, The Morton Arboretum Horticultural Staff
Following best management practices for tree planting is the best start to promote a healthy, long-lived tree in the landscape. This demonstration will go over how to mitigate root defects and properly install containerized and ball-and-burlap trees.

12:00pm-1:00pm
High Format Demo

12:00pm-1:00pm
Native Plant Layout & Design

12:00 – 1:30 p.m.
Dunk Tank Opens

12:00pm-2:00pm
Gas vs. Electric Equipment Rodeo
Demo Area
Join us for the exciting Gas vs. Electric Equipment Rodeo, where you can test your skills with both gas and electric string trimmers, leaf blowers, and mowers. Experience firsthand which equipment is faster and more efficient in a fun, competitive setting. With many municipalities adopting electric equipment ordinances, this is the perfect opportunity to experiment, learn, and discover the future of outdoor tools. Don’t miss out on this chance to showcase your skills and put your name at the top of the leaderboard!

1:00pm- 1:45pm
Liquids to Melt Snow & Ice
Presented by: Kaplan Liquid Solutions

1:00pm-2:00pm
Container Wars
Join the thrilling Container War, where creativity meets chaos as participants design stunning containers using available plant material and soil. Unleash your imagination and showcase your skills in this fun competition! Attendees will vote for their favorite designs, and fantastic prizes await the creators of the best containers. Don’t miss this chance to demonstrate your passion and win!

1:00pm-2:00pm
Tree Felling
Hosted by: Homer Industries
Watch the professionals from Homer Industries take down a tree in real time while explaining the safety protocols, environmental considerations, and step-by-step process behind responsible tree removal. This live demonstration will cover equipment, assessment techniques, and how to approach tree felling in both residential and commercial landscapes. A must-see for anyone involved in tree care, landscape maintenance, or site preparation.

2:00pm
Raffles Start

2:30pm
Show Closes

FLOORPLAN AND LIST OF EXHIBITORS COMING SOON!