Click to see photos from this year's De Soto Senior Expo:
More than 400 people turned out for a bustling morning of fun and learning at the De Soto Senior Expo on April 19 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in De Soto.
The event, sponsored by Leader Publications, featured 33 vendors, speakers and lots of entertainment.
“I think this was the best De Soto Expo we’ve had in years,” Leader publisher Peggy Scott said. “The weather was great, and the people who came seemed to be very engaged. Even the vendors said they had a good time.”
Popular reptile handler Serengeti Steve brought an array of “critters” for people to learn about and handle, and Jefferson County YMCA instructor Kim Gibson led a lively chair exercise class, complete with props.
Expo guests enjoyed free doughnuts and coffee, played two sessions of free bingo and danced to live music by J.B. Louis and the Legends, the official Senior Expo band.
Robert “Bob” Walker, 73, of Hillsboro won the random drawing for the grand prize package – a St. Louis Battlehawks XFL football package including four tickets to the April 22 game against the Orlando Guardians; some Battlehawks swag; and $100 cash for parking and food.
“Actually, they drew another name, but the first guy wasn’t able to go, so they drew again and my name popped up,” Walker said. “I’m a football fan, and we were really excited.”
Unfortunately, Walker’s wife, Peggy, who suffers from migraine headaches, woke up feeling ill on game day and they couldn’t go, he said.
“I knew the crowd noise would be intolerable for her,” Walker said. “We couldn’t reschedule, because it was the last game of the year.”
The Walkers have both been retired for almost 20 years, Bob as an auto assembler with Chrysler and Peggy as a keypunch operator.
“We go to all the Senior Expos, have for years,” Walker said. “We get out more now than we did when we worked.”
Although the Walkers were disappointed to miss the game, they said they’ll be back at the next expo to try to win more prizes.
Another drawing was held for a prize package offered by the St. Louis Art Museum, and the winner was Margie Rose of Herculaneum, who received a custom museum bag, a one-year museum membership, books, greeting cards and other materials.
The De Soto event was the second of five senior expos the Leader will sponsor throughout the year in various locations.
The next one, the West Side Senior Expo, is scheduled for 8 a.m. to noon Wednesday, July 26, at Northwest High School in Cedar Hill.
For more information about upcoming expos, call the Leader office at 636-931-7560.