It should be a busy morning for visitors to the Arnold Senior Expo on Wednesday, Oct. 5, at the Arnold Recreation Center, 1695 Missouri State Road. The event, sponsored by Leader Publications, will offer a full schedule of entertainment, information and activities for those 50 and older. Admission is free and doors open at 8 a.m., with free coffee and doughnuts served while the supply lasts.
Parking is free and a continuous shuttle service will be offered, beginning at 7:45 a.m., from the parking lots to the front door of the rec center.
More than 30 vendors will be on hand, offering products and services of interest to mature people. Many will host giveaways and door prizes. Expogoers may want to bring along pre-printed address labels to make entering easier.
There will be a grand prize drawing, with one lucky winner’s name drawn at random from all eligible entries. (One entry per person, please). The prize package, valued at about $1,000, will include a two-night stay at the luxury French-inspired Tiny Homes at Baetje Farms in Ste. Genevieve County; a welcome charcuterie board; a tour of the Baetje Farms creamery and a taste of their award-winning goat cheeses; a tour of the Charleville Brewery & Winery, with a private tasting; a set of Charleville glassware and two six-packs from Charleville. The package also includes dinner for two at the Dew Drop Inn both evenings, and breakfast for two at The Kozy both mornings.
Signups will be held at the Leader Publications booth until just before the drawing.
The expo schedule looks like this:
■ 8 a.m. – Expo opens. Free coffee and doughnuts, while supplies last. Pharmax will offer COVID-19 and flu vaccines on site at the expo.
■ 8:30 a.m. – Teresa Kohut, Arnold Parks and Recreation superintendent, will give a presentation about the city’s 50th-anniversary celebration that has been held throughout the year, as well as about the Silver Sneakers program for senior fitness offered through the rec center.
■ 9 a.m. – Free bingo, with prizes of gift certificates and restaurant coupons, courtesy of Leader Publications.
■ 9:30 a.m. – Linda Els with the Jefferson County Beekeepers Association will talk about the club and the importance of beekeeping.
■ 9:30 a.m. – Lori Deubner of OASIS will speak about the tutoring program, which recruits seniors to volunteer to help elementary school students with reading and other skills.
■ 10 a.m. – Live music provided by J.B. Louis and the Legends, the official Leader Senior Expo band.
■ 11 a.m. – Prizes announced.
■ 11:15 a.m. – Second session of free bingo.
■ Noon – Expo closes.
For information about Senior Expo, call the Leader at 636-931-7560.