Beyond home improvement, here are seven reasons to see the 30th Annual Spring Atlanta Home Show, opening Thursday:

1. The obvious: Ideas for your personal palace. With more than 350 exhibitors, the home show allows you to see products up close and ask vendors about pricing and installation.

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Pick up a lot of home improvement ideas at the Spring Atlanta Home Show

RELATED LINKS: • Local residents tout intown living at home show • Photos of the intown neighborhoods • See more Home & Garden stories

2. Celebrity speakers: Learn gardening and decorating tips from experts such as garden guru Walter Reeves (host of "The Lawn and Garden Show" on WSB-AM), as well as HGTV stars including David Bromstad, host of "Color Splash," and Joe Washington, former host of "Ground Breakers."

3. 30 prizes: You can enter to win prizes such as kitchen gadgets, spa certificates, a garage makeover, closet design, an alarm system, Thrashers tickets and even a 1993 Harley Davidson Roadster.

4. Circle of Wine: For a $5 donation, sample 30 wines in honor of the show's 30th anniversary. All proceeds go to the Atlanta Community Food Bank.

5. Cooking demos: Learn how to bake for American royalty or your favorite American Rover — experts, including Neil Connolly, chef to the Kennedy family, will share dinner and dessert recipes, as well as snazzy cocktails and home-made pet goodies.

6. Drive like Jeff Gordon: Speed demons can get behind the wheel of a DuPont car outfitted to simulate the NASCAR driving experience. Each day's fastest driver can come back Sunday to compete for a prize.

7. Firefighters: Atlanta's finest will be on hand to walk families through a simulated burning house, teaching potentially life-saving techniques. While there, vote for your favorite firefighter to appear in the 2009 Georgia Heat Firefighters calendar, benefiting the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation.

IF YOU GO

30th Annual Spring Atlanta Home Show

Thursday through Sunday at Georgia World Congress Center, 285 Andrew Young International Blvd N.W.,

Hours: Noon-6 p.m. Thursday and Sunday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday-Saturday.

Tickets Adults, $10; ages 6-12, $3; seniors and ages 5 and younger, free; military with ID, $5; multi-day passes, $15. Tickets are available at the show box office or at www.atlantahomeshow.com. Call 770-998-9800 for more info.