Rotary Hello Summer Expo a huge success

It’s hard to know who had a better time at the two-day Hello Summer Expo at The Plex – the thousands of happy kids who bounced and played for free or the thousands of older attendees who enjoyed live music from nine acts over the May 20-21 weekend.

Emma Hallman, 1, of Caledon East could barely contain her glee while playing in the junior bouncy area of The Plex during the Hello Summer Expo hosted May 2-21 by the Rotary Club of Port Elgin.

The Expo, hosted by the Rotary Club of Port Elgin with help from the Southampton and Saugeen Shores Rotarians, was a major shift from the home and garden shows of the past, transforming into an expo with free fun for kids and live music, according to Randy Bird, president of the Rotary Club of Port Elgin.
He estimated the expo drew 3,000 people to the two-day event that featured 44 vendors, kids’ zones for different ages, food and a bar, and all-afternoon/evening live music.

“We changed almost every aspect of the Expo and each of the items was an individual success,” Bird said in a May 23 telephone interview.
“The biggest change is that we will actually have money generated for donation to the local community,” Bird said, adding he did not yet know an amount, but funds raised would support local physical well-being and mental health programs and services.

Bird gave this by-the-numbers assessment of the expo:

– 400 people used the after-concert shuttle bus service to get home safely
– 44 vendor booths
– 50 to 60 volunteers donated thousands of hours of time and talents
– Three Rotary Clubs and the Shriners worked together for the benefit of the community
– 50-plus local companies made money though new leads or as suppliers to this event
– Nine local music groups received exposure and new fans.