More than 600 people attended the West Side Senior Expo, held July 26 at Northwest High School in Cedar Hill.
The free event, sponsored by Leader Publications, provided a busy, fun morning of information, education and entertainment. Parking was free, too, and a shuttle service operated throughout the morning, courtesy of STL Golf Cart Shuttle.
More than 600 people attended the West Side Senior Expo, held July 26 at Northwest High School in Cedar Hill.
The free event, sponsored by Leader Publications, provided a busy, fun morning of information, education and entertainment. Parking was free, too, and a shuttle service operated throughout the morning, courtesy of STL Golf Cart Shuttle.
“We had lots of first-time visitors, and that’s great to see,” Leader publisher Peggy Scott said. “Having the golf cart shuttle service was terrific. They gave door-to-door service that really helped on a hot day.”
Jean Kilper of Fenton was the winner of the grand prize, courtesy of Leader Publications. Her name was drawn at random to receive a relaxing, two-night getaway to Echo Bluff State Park near Eminence. Her prize package included a room for two nights in the lodge at Echo Bluff, along with a welcome basket with T-shirts, hats, travel coffee mugs, stickers and more.
Kilper, 73, said she likely will schedule her Echo Bluff trip a bit later in the year, once the weather begins to cool down a bit.
“I was going to ask my daughter to go,” she said. “If she’s not able to, I might ask a good friend.”
Kilper said she is excited to stay in the Betty Lea lodge, with expansive views of the bluffs from which the park takes its name, and to perhaps catch a glimpse of the wild horses that live in the area.
“I’m a tent camper from way back, so the lodge will be quite luxurious,” she said. “And I love horses; they’ve always been my favorite animal. They’re just beautiful.”
Kilper said she regularly attends the Leader’s senior expos but has never won a grand prize.
“I go down to the Festus one and the Arnold one, and I usually go to this (West Side) one, too,” she said. “I enjoy it, and it gets me out of the house. It’s a nice outing I feel very safe doing.”
A second drawing was held for a custom bag from the St. Louis Art Museum. Winner Don Wieland of Imperial received a one-year museum membership, books, greeting cards and other materials.
Activities galore
The expo featured more than 30 vendors offering services, products and information of interest to those age 50 and up. Most had an array of giveaway items, and many gave away door prizes as well.
There were several guest speakers and performers:
■ Staci L. Templeton from Edward Jones shared information about senior scams.
■ Monika Lorenze, president of the German Cultural Society of St. Louis, and Dorris Keeven-Franke, president of the German American Committee of St. Louis, gave a presentation about local history.
■ Representatives from God’s Grace Animal Rescue in High Ridge were on hand with a zebu, a donkey, a pony and a horse with a rainbow-dyed mane.
■ Expogoers were encouraged to head outside for a look at the Cedar Hill Fire Protection District truck and the Big River Ambulance District rig on display on the parking lot.
■ A Lion’s Choice food truck was on hand serving food.
“At one point, someone said the line was 10 deep,” Scott said.
There were two sessions of free bingo, with gift certificates to local restaurants as prizes, as well as free coffee and doughnuts.
J.B. Louis and the Legends, the official Leader Senior Expo band, tuned up for an hour of music and dancing to close out the morning.
The West Side Senior Expo is one of five expos Leader Publications holds each year. Others are held in Arnold, Eureka, Festus and De Soto. The next Leader Senior Expo is scheduled from 8 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Aug. 23, at the Arnold Eagles, 1725 Jeffco Blvd.