About 400 people turned out for the Eureka Senior Expo, held Nov. 2 at the Timbers of Eureka Recreation Center.
It was the first time the event, sponsored by Leader Publications, was held at the rec center, where a shuttle provided by The River at Eureka ran continuously from the parking areas to the front door.
“We got a lot of compliments on the new venue,” Leader publisher Peggy Scott said. “I think it is just a great fit for an event like this.”
Gerald Slaby of High Ridge was the lucky grand prize winner of a Lemp Mansion visit, after his name was drawn at random from among all those who signed up at the Leader Publications booth.
He and a companion will enjoy a night in one of the suites at the historic Lemp Mansion Restaurant & Inn in St. Louis, as well as two tickets to a Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater held at the mansion.
Visitors to the expo snacked on free coffee and doughnuts while checking out the 40-odd booths where vendors displayed a wide variety of goods and services of interest to seniors.
Jefferson County Health Department staff administered flu shots and COVID boosters throughout the morning.
There were two sessions of free bingo. The Leader’s bingo callers were unable to attend, and Eureka Ward 1 Alderman Jerry Diekmann bravely filled in at the last minute.
“He did a great job,” Scott said. “It was a lot of fun.”
There were several guest speakers at the expo, including St. Louis County Library Eureka Hills branch manager Anna Schurk, who talked about library services, and Eureka Police Lt. Michael Werges and Eureka Fire Deputy Chief William Stamberger, who gave a presentation about safety for seniors.
Eureka recreation supervisor Luke Hollman spoke about pickleball, and seniors had the opportunity to take part in a cardio fit class or a Beginner Step workout class.
For additional exercise, some expogoers danced to the music of J.B. Louis and the Legends, the official Leader Senior Expo band.
Vendors awarded a number of attendance prizes at the end of the event.
Watch this space for information about the 2023 schedule for Senior Expos – De Soto in April, Festus in June, Cedar Hill in July, Arnold in October and Eureka in November.
For more information or to sign up for a vendor space, call the Leader at 636-931-7560.