Outdoor recreation expo to return for second year at Monroe fairgrounds
Published 12:01 am Tuesday, March 8, 2011
MONROE — An outdoor recreation expo is scheduled to return to the Evergreen State Fairgrounds for the second year in a row.
The free event is to be held during the weekend of April 30 and May 1.
The event features an array of exhibitors showing off gear for outdoor sports, such as climbing, hiking and mountain biking. There’s also likely to be home-improvement vendors with wares for gardening, landscaping and cooking.
The expo serves other promotional functions, too.
It’s meant to boost local tourism, especially in eastern Snohomish County.
Additionally, it’s an advertisement for the annual 12-day Evergreen State Fair in the late summer. The 2011 state fair is scheduled Aug. 25 through Sept. 5. The theme is, “Hungry for Fun?”
For the spring event, carnival rides and a Sky Valley barbecue competition are planned.
While admission is free, the visitors must pay for the carnival rides.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 30 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 1.
County staff put together the first-ever Spring Recreation Expo for 2010 in relatively short order. In the end, it did slightly better than break even.
An estimated 5,420 people attended, bringing in more than $6,500 in revenues from carnival and food concessions. Marketing, equipment and staffing expenses totaled just under $6,000.
Vendors who are interested in the 2011 spring expo can exhibit for free, though a reservation is required. To participate, contact Brenda Granstrom at 360-805-6700 or info@evergreenfair.org.
