3-27-24 Ledger

Wednesday, March 27, 2024 page 9

EXPO, continued

First on the stage was the Litethouse YMCA taekwondo students with their

instructor, Master Patricia Ramos. The students demonstrated their board

breaking skills for the crowd. Photo courtesy of Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce

facebook page.

ever required to stand in the

same place for too long.

LowellArts had a

booth where children could

pick an egg and win a

prize. Expo also coincided

with the beginning of the

opening day of the West

Michigan Art Competition

2024, wherein LowellArts

displays visual art made

by Lower West Michigan

artists in a 25-county re-

gion and offers artists an

opportunity to win one of

five $3000 cash prizes. This

is the 38th year LowellArts

has hosted the event, and

community members can

enjoy these works through

Saturday, April 27. Sharon

Oleniczak is a member of

the LowellArts board and

a first time Expo present-

er. “It’s amazing to see all

the different things here,”

Oleniczak said. “It’s great

just getting the word out.”

One particularly pow-

erful pull for Lowell Expo

is the Golden Ticket prize

giveaway. Attendees with

a Golden Ticket, found be-

fore the event in the Low-

ell Buyers Guide or during

the event at the entrance

of Lowell High School,

had an opportunity to win

prizes, including a sponsor

gift basket valued at $

or more and $200 in Low-

ell Bucks every hour of the

event, which spanned from

9 am to 2 pm. In addition to

that, each booth, had prizes

of their own, including

Point Broadband’s booth

where children could win

squishy balls and candy by

playing a game similar to

Plinko from TV’s The Price

Is Right, and the Litehouse

Family YMCA gave out

fidget spinners and balls

for children, who spun a

wheel and competed in ac-

tivities, like naming five

fruits or running in place.

A number of busi-

nesses also boasted job

opportunities for those at-

tending Expo. While there

were no onsite interviews,

many employers were open

to discussing current job

openings, the interview

process, and more. Find-

ing employees is just one

of many reasons business-

es set-up tables at Expo.

“For many organiza-

tions, Expo is part of a larg-

er brand awareness strat-

egy,” Kennedy said. “The

greater Lowell area, and

our neighboring communi-

ties, bring in new residents

every year. For a family

that just moved to Lowell,

they are likely not aware of

the many companies, clubs,

and organizations that exist

in our community. Similar-

ly, companies looking to ex-

pand their business can fea-

ture their services at Expo.”

A great example is The

Old Theater, an event orga-

nization focusing on fam-

ily-friendly comedy and

social dancing. The folks

at The Old Theater are cur-

rently raising funds to revi-

talize their location and put

it on the map for weddings,

receptions, and other simi-

lar events. Co-owner, Lisa

Reed, made it clear, how-

ever, that they do not intend

to abandon their mission of

dance instruction. “There

are too many clueless high

school dancers,” Reed said.

For Reed, it is better to

learn how to dance, ahead

of time, rather than add-

ing that to the list of anxi-

eties that may arise when

the lights turn down and

the music starts playing.

In the gymnasium,

there were a number of

entertainment options on

the stage, including a tae-

kwondo demonstration,

live bands, and dance per-

formances. The Lowell

Middle School jazz band

even broke into some blues.

Between exhibition halls,

the West Michigan Blue-

grass Music Association

casually jammed on acous-

tic guitars, fiddles, and ban-

jos, entertaining anyone

in-line waiting for food.

The Lowell Middle School jazz band breaks into some blues.

Curiosity Corner Preschool recruits a two-year-old (with her parents’

consent, of course) to join the preschool program, during the 2024-

school year, using plastic bricks and easter eggs. Curiosity Corner offers

programs for children two and a half to five years of age.

The weekend’s inclement weather was no impediment to a well-attended
26th annual Lowell Community Expo.

LowellArts challenges families to come for the

candy and stay for the art.

The high school served hot

dogs, wraps, pulled pork,

and more, from 10:30 am to

1 pm, and BC Pizza served

pizza by the slice. Outside,

The Food Truck offered

smash burgers, cajun fries,

and other delicious appe-

tizers, while Cup of Grace

served specialty coffee.

“There’s something

for everyone at the Lowell

Community Expo,” Ken-

nedy said. “Whether you’re

looking for new products,

a great Expo deal, help

with home projects or re-

pairs, help for a loved one,

or looking to get more in-

volved in the community,

you’ll be sure to discover

something new, if you take

the time to walk the show,

engage with vendors, and

ask questions. A common

phrase you’ll overhear,

when walking the show is,

‘I didn’t know you do that.’”

The late-March spring

snow storm did nothing

to hinder a well-attended

Lowell Community Expo,

with even some of the earli-

est attendees having to park

at one of the high school’s

numerous overflow lots.

The event was just as fun,

as measured by smiles on

faces and engagement with

booths, for young chil-

dren and teens, as it was

for adults of every stripe.