As temperatures begin to rise when the seasons change many people are planning outdoor activities. With that in mind, the City of Cartersville and Home Depot collaborated for the annual government expo Spring Event, offering ideas for various home improvement and gardening projects to community members.

"We wanted to give the public a chance to see what their government is doing and what services we offer," said Rebecca Bohlander, city of Cartersville communications and public relations manager. "We've had a good turnout and hopefully can try to keep this partnership for next year."

Corresponding with the event, Home Depot's spring Black Friday sale allowed participants to gain more knowledge about home improvement and energy saving ideas while having the option to take advantage of the weekend deals.

"We have these vendors here to explain ways to save on energy in homes," said Gail Walker, Cartersville Home Depot lead generator. "We're expecting around 200 to 300 kids today."

Children were able to build a planter from a kit supplied by the retail outlet and take it across the parking lot to a gardening area to plant seeds in the box they built. Paint was also available to the kids from Glidden, one of the vendors on hand to offer ideas on spring-time painting projects.

Representing the city, the fire department had their prevention team and a model house to instruct visitors on fire safety. The police department also had a driving simulator that included possible situations involving criminal activities, such as a chase.

Along with the electric and gas companies, who were available to answer questions on how to make homes more energy efficient, the parks and recreation department also was present, encouraging outdoor activities for children and families.