Flexible space at Kane fairgrounds offers options for shows, meetings
The folks at the Prairie Events Center along Randall Road in St. Charles are hosting an open house today, hoping to showcase what many may not know is there.
They're hoping to show meeting planners, trade show and exhibition managers, and event planners that there is 36,000 square feet of space on the Kane County Fairgrounds property ripe for meetings, trade shows and conventions, said David Richards of DW Richards Marketing, which is helping to plan the industry-geared event.
"This facility is so important to the business community in the greater Tri-Cities/Fox Valley area, as it attracts thousands of people from throughout the Midwest and the country to our area people who stay in our hotels, enjoy our restaurants and patronize our retailers," Richards said.
The center's managers and board members will be on hand to show off the center, at 525 S. Randall, and to talk about its flexibility and amenities for meetings and shows.
They say it is perfect for small to mid-size shows and events.
In addition to the indoor space, it also has parking for 4,000 vehicles, and an eight-acre hard surface display area for boat shows, RV shows and other vehicle shows.
Inside, they said, the space is also very flexible. It can be made into an intimate 4,000-square-foot area, and can be opened up to host an event in 36,000 square feet of space.
Representatives from a firm specializing in trade show exhibits will have more than 12 booths set up to illustrate the center's capabilities.
The St. Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau also will be on-site to promote the hotel properties throughout town, as the various trade shows and meetings attract thousands of visitors to the area.
Richards said they're trying to show people in many different industries how attractive the center can be, with its proximity to Chicago, but without the hassles of the city.
'The Lost Hero': Borders Books along Randall in both Algonquin and Geneva are hosting an event celebrating the release of "The Lost Hero," the new book by Rick Riordan.
The much-awaited book is expected to be popular with kids of many ages, just as Riordan's "The Lightning Thief" and the others in that series were.
The release parties begin at 2 p.m. Oct. 16 at both stores.
There will be book discussions, contests, games and more celebrating the adventure and excitement in the book's world.
It is the same world first introduced in the Percy Jackson series by Riordan.
These free Borders events are geared toward kids ages 8 to 12.
Work out, save money: New to the Randall Road corridor in Algonquin is 2nd Wind Exercise Equipment.
The store opened recently in the Algonquin Commons mall, next to Cheeseburger in Paradise.
There is another 2nd Wind on the Randall Road corridor in Geneva, in the Geneva Commons Mall.
The stores sell exercise equipment. Most of it is new, but they also offer some previously owned merchandise.
Amy Williams' column covers all the news of business along the Randall Road corridor from Batavia to Crystal Lake. Contact her at randallbiz@comcast.net or (847) 894-5036.