Wednesday (Oct. 6) should be a busy morning for visitors to the Arnold Senior Expo at the Arnold Recreation Center, 1695 Missouri State Road.
The event, sponsored by Leader Publications, will include 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.
About 40 vendors will be on hand, offering products and services of interest to mature people. Many will host giveaways and door prizes. (Pssst … smart visitors bring along pre-printed address labels to make entering drawings quick and easy)
“We’ve waited so long to see our Senior Expo family, it feels like, and we miss them all,” Leader assistant publisher Peggy Scott said. “We hope people are not reluctant to come out. We are working hard to have in place every measure possible to make it safe for them.”
There will be a grand prize drawing, with three names chosen at random from among all eligible entries (One per person, please). The first-place winner receives dinner for four at Trattoria Giuseppe in Otto and a private “Star Party” with expert tour guides at the new Jefferson College Observatory. The second- and third-place winners and a guest apiece will join the Star Party.
Signups will be held at the Leader Publications booth until just before the drawing.
The following activities will be held during the expo:
■ “Ask the Attorney” – Attorney Joseph Montecillo of the Kramer, Hand, Buchholz & Partney law firm will speak at 8:30 a.m. on a variety of topics of interest to seniors, such as Social Security, veterans benefits, power of attorney, estate planning, probate and more. He also will answer questions and provide contacts for more information.
■ Two sessions of free bingo will be held at 9 a.m. and again at 11:15 a.m., with prizes like restaurant gift certificates.
■ Don Ficken of the St. Louis Astronomical Society will present a program at 9:30 a.m. about the new Jefferson College observatory, which was dedicated Sept. 12. He also will serve as a tour guide for the grand prize winners’ tour of the facility later in the week.
■ At 10 a.m., music will be provided by J.B. Louis and the Legends, the official Leader Senior Expo band.
■ At 11 a.m., the grand prize winners will be announced. Winners must be present to receive the prize.
■ The Jefferson County Health Department will offer flu shots and COVID-19 vaccinations throughout the event in its mobile facility on the parking lot.
For information about the grand prize, the contest, the trip or the Senior Expo itself, call the Leader at 636-931-7560.