elcome to the ninth installment of the Concrete Decor Show, a now biennial event put on by the folks from Professional Trade Publications. It’s being held Monday through Thursday, Oct. 28-31, at the Arlington Convention Center in Arlington, Texas, with lodging accommodations at the nearby Arlington Sheraton Hotel.

The show — dedicated wholly to those whose livelihood centers on the business of decorative concrete — begins at 7 a.m. Monday with a presentation titled “Safety Comes First” at the center’s Show Floor Four.

Moderated by Chris Sullivan, the decorative concrete specialist for the American Society of Concrete Contractors/Decorative Concrete Council and a regular columnist for Concrete Decor, the early morning tailgater will address how you can build a job site environment that’s safe and free of hazards while winning the support of your co-workers. Doughnuts and coffee will be served.

Following the tailgater, seminars and workshops will be held throughout the morning and into the afternoon.

Monday’s scheduled evening activity is the Decorative Concrete Hall of Fame ceremony and dinner beginning at 7 p.m. Four men will be inducted. Tickets are required to attend.

Tuesday evening from 5:30 to 7:30, show participants are invited to get a sneak preview of this year’s Expo during a welcome reception in the exhibit hall. Refreshments and hors d’oeuvres will be served.

The popular Women in Decorative Concrete Reception will be held beginning at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Open to all female attendees, presenters, exhibitors and trainers, the informal gathering is a networking opportunity ladies in attendance shouldn’t miss. Expect tasty refreshments and lively conversation. Tickets are required.

Thursday’s schedule begins with the Daily Devotion, followed by morning seminars and the Expo in the afternoon until 6 p.m. Headlining the afternoon’s activities, a demonstration titled “Selecting the Right Sealer for the Job,” will be featured beginning at 12:15 p.m. in the exhibit hall. Brian Farnsworth of Cement Colors will compare various choices from water-based acrylic-urethanes and water- and solvent-based penetrating sealers to hybrid sealers and high-performance coatings.

Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned contractor whose native language is English or Spanish, there will be opportunities to help you refine your current skills and learn new techniques. See pages 22-23 for a short synopsis of the scheduled educational offerings and hand-on workshops. More details are listed online at www.concretedecorshow.com.

Full-conference participants: $425 at the door. Fee covers two-day Expo, seminars and workshops.

Get money back: Full-conference participants are eligible to receive $150 rebate if they spend $500 or more on products displayed at the show using the online Marketplace at store.concretedecor.net. Some restrictions apply.

Women in Decorative Concrete Reception, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30. Tickets $20

BBQ Texas style, open to all show participants. Details to come.

For more information about the show, call (877) 935-8906. For general information, visit www.concretedecorshow.com.