With everything from putting contests, home decorating consultants, and free samples to games for kids, Crime Stoppers’ “Bail or Jail,” and, of course, products to check out, the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce’s annual home and leisure show is coming up this Friday and Saturday at the Memorial Sports Centre.
And organizers are hoping the great amount of work going into the event will pay off with an equally good response from the public.
“We do anticipate some big crowds. We had 4,000 people through the doors in two days last year. We’re hoping to top that,” Chamber manager Dawn Booth said yesterday afternoon.
“Spring carnival” is the theme for the trade show, which runs from noon-9 p.m. on Friday and again Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is free.
Booth said the trade show is “pretty much jam-packed full” with exhibitors, adding she’s had seven more people calling her in the past two days wanting to set up exhibits at the event.
More than 80 exhibitors are booked for the Ice for Kids Arena and in the lobby.
“I think people have been talking more about the trade show, and building up the excitement around it, drawing more exhibitors to it,” noted Booth, adding last year’s event, which was held for the first time in the spring instead of fall, also was popular.
“It’s unfortunate we didn’t have access to the ’52 Canadians Arena,” she lamented, referring to the fact that without a sprinkler system, and no ice on the floor, using that arena is in violation of the fire safety code and therefore off-limits.
The home and leisure show will feature three interior designers, with whom people can make an appointment for advice on renovating their homes.
Booth added the Chamber is trying to “reach all ages” at this year’s trade show and give people more reasons to spend time there. In fact, the trade show floor will be divided into sections for kids, seniors, women, and men.
“There’s definitely something for everyone to do,” she noted.
As reported in last Thursday’s Daily Bulletin, the trade show also will feature a “Hole-in-One Putt” contest. Anyone who wants to take a shot on the putting green set up on the Ice for Kids Arena floor just has to pay $5 per putt.
People can take as many putts as they want—as long as they pay each time.
Those who make a hole-in-one then will get their name put into a draw, which will be made Saturday at 3 p.m. The first 100 people drawn then will get a crack at entering a five-digit code to open a “prize vault,” noted Booth.
The person who gets the code right will open the vault and get a choice of one of three prizes: a Dodge 4X4 truck from West End Motors, a KIA Sorento from K-Sport Kia in Kenora, or a prize package from Badiuk Equipment, including an Alumacraft boat, a boat trailer, both a motor and trolling motor, a four-wheeler, a motorbike, a pushmower, a riding lawn mower, a brush cutter, and a chainsaw.
There also will be an outdoor flea market running Friday from 4-8 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m.-noon. Booth noted people are welcome to pay a small fee and then bring their wares to the parking lot outside the Memorial Sports Centre to sell them.
Cost is $10 a day, or $15 for two if you book a spot in advance, or $20 a day ($30 for two) if you don’t.
To find out more about the trade show, to be an exhibitor, or to book a spot with the flea market, call Booth at 274-5773 or drop by the Chamber office at 474 Scott St. (across from Safeway).
For a complete listing of activities at the home and leisure show, see the ad elsewhere in this edition of the Times.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
