Wauconda Chamber hosts annual EXPO
The ninth annual Wauconda Area Chamber of Commerce Business and Community EXPO returns to Wauconda High School Saturday, Feb. 25 and Sunday, Feb. 26.
“Winter Blues Getaway” will showcase more than 70 area business and municipal booths, plus several area clubs and organizations.
Coinciding with EXPO is the 6th Annual American Legion Post 911 Craft Show with more than 40 participants.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 25, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 26.
This popular event, co-sponsored by Joseph Lincoln, DDS, and RE/MAX Plaza — Pattie Palzet-Taylor, is free to all visitors.
Saturday’s EXPO and Craft Show starts an exciting weekend of special events, entertainment, prize drawings, and food booths from the Wauconda High School Boosters, jj Twig’s Pizza & Pub, and the Wauconda Moose Lodge 1969.
EXPO booths will be in the large gym and main hallway, while the craft show will be in the cafeteria.
Free EXPO programs will be distributed to all visitors with a detailed map and listing of all participants. A guide to Wauconda’s lineup of 2012 events hosted by the Chamber, park district and village will also be available to attendees.
On Feb. 25, the EXPO will feature the 2011 Canine Olympics Champion MAXX, Wauconda’s very own police dog, demonstrating his canine detective abilities with his trainer, Sgt. John Combs. Other events include local musician Terry Spizzirri.
On Feb. 26, EXPO guests will be treated to Dave’s Traveling World of Reptiles, featuring an up-close, live and extremely interactive experience with exotic reptiles and amphibians from around the world. Other events include musical entertainment by Jeff Trudell.
“Last year’s event drew in about 1,900 visitors,” Chamber Executive Director Sandy Hartogh said. “Based on another year of early sell out of our exhibitor booths, and businesses still knocking on our door to request a space, we are expecting an even larger crowd this year.”
To promote its “Your Dollar has Power” program, the Chamber encourages the community to shop at favorite Wauconda chamber businesses during February. EXPO guests can bring receipts to the event. For every $100 in valid chamber merchant receipts presented, local shoppers earn an entry into a grand prize drawing of gifts and certificates from participating Chamber businesses. A limit of $5,000 in valid receipts will be accepted.
A complete listing of booth participants and daily entertainment is available online at www.waucondaareachamber.org.