Jefferson County senior citizens are invited to the Arnold Senior Expo on Wednesday, Oct. 6, at the Arnold Recreation Center, 1695 Missouri State Road.
The event, sponsored by Leader Publications, will run from 8 a.m. to noon and 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. The shuttle service is courtesy of The Woodlands of Arnold.
About 40 vendors will be on hand, offering products and services of interest to mature people. Many will host giveaways and door prizes. Visitors may want to bring along pre-printed address labels to make entering drawings quick and easy.
There will be a grand prize drawing, with three names chosen at random from among all eligible entries. Attendees are asked to enter just once.
The first-place winner receives dinner for four at Trattoria Giuseppe in Otto and a private “Star Party” at the new Jefferson College Observatory led by expert astronomer Don Ficken. 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.
■ 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 lead the Start Party for the grand prize winners’ visit to the Jefferson College Observatory 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.