ST. ALBANS — Almost everywhere you looked at the Rotary Home & Recreation Expo this weekend, a happy customer was carrying a yellow broom.
At the far corner of the Collins Perley tennis courts, John Holt captivated crowds with his charisma and demonstration of Sweepa rubber brooms.
“It’s the last broom you’ll ever buy,” he touted, showing how the rubber bristles easily clean hardwood, carpet, tile and concrete. On Saturday, he sold approximately 400 brooms to convinced expo-goers. On Sunday, he was on track to hit a similar number.
“It even cleans in between the grout,” one customer excitedly told a friend.
Innovative products and businesses were on display all weekend long at the 30th anniversary of the Home & Recreation Expo, hosted by the Rotary Club of St. Albans. More than 100 vendors filled Collins Perley Sports Complex to show off a wide range of local goods and services.
Over 3,000 attendees walked the expo on Saturday, a turnout that exceeded recent years and thrilled organizers.
“It’s been a great opening,” Rotary Club president Leon Berthauime said. “We plan this for months and I always enjoy seeing it come to life.”
“Businesses are getting leads and making sales,” Expo Chair Joe Halko said. “There’s also more things for kids to do, and the variety of exhibitors is outstanding.”
Admission to the expo was free again this year thanks to a sponsorship from handyscars.com. Net proceeds from other aspects of the event are donated back to community initiatives by the Rotary club.
Exhibitors were spread between the tennis courts and the ice rink, and attendees weaved in between the realtors, bankers, builders, landscapers and car dealers savoring cups of sugar on snow from the Vermont Maple Festival booth.
Rob Coburn was at the helm of expo-organizing for the first time this year as its general manager. He encouraged Boat Headquarters of Swanton to return to the show after 20 years away.
“There’s no longer a boat show in Essex, and Rob convinced us to give it another go,” said sales associate Ryan Lothian, standing beside a large pontoon boat. “We’re hoping to get our name out there to people who haven’t heard of us.”
Mark Gilmond, on the other hand, said the expo has been a 20-year tradition for Unified Ag & Turf, a John Deere dealer in Swanton. He was there with everything from riding lawn mowers to farm tractors and was enjoying watching young kids climb up and check them out.
“I like meeting our customers, both old and new, in a community setting,” he said. “And seeing the smiling faces, and being one too.”
It was the first time at the show for Kory and Solange Gover and Marcus Pennywell of Gover’s Home & Property. The Highgate-based business will celebrate its first anniversary in April and is in the midst of transitioning to a full-on fence company. The Govers used the show to introduce themselves to the community and show-off some of their projects, like the baseball field fences at Cioffi Park.
On Sunday afternoon, Michelle Beauregard was representing Wright’s Excavating of Franklin, on behalf of owner Keith Wright. The business does site and foundation work, septics and “anything on a farm.” It even helped put in the new Hard’Ack Pool.
“We’re here to put a face behind the name,” Beauregard said.
In addition to the local businesses, several community initiatives also set up tables to interact with the public. Mary Harbaugh represented the City of St. Albans’ Climate and Energy Committee. On Sunday, she was sharing information about how homeowners can save money and energy with statewide rebate options.
“We’re reaching people who might not normally follow what we’re up to,” she said. “We’re also getting a sense of people’s interests, which can help give us direction.”
Debra Morton and Donna Howard from the City of St. Albans’ Downtown Board were talking up Totality in Taylor Park, the upcoming April 8 event to celebrate the solar eclipse. The pair were also selling t-shirts and stickers, proceeds from which benefit downtown events.
Many exhibitors gave away free treats to entice visitors, and others offered games to win prizes. The Rotary Club, in honor of its 100th anniversary in 2024, hid 100 golden tickets in the popular $5 grab bags. Lucky ticket-holders were entered into a raffle for $200 in cash.
“This show gets us out after a long winter,” Halko said. “We see people we haven’t seen in a while and welcome in spring.”
Families found fun with characters from “Monsters Inc.” and with puppies from Friends of Duke Animal Rescue. Hadley Priebe, of the Franklin Grand Isle Bookmobile, was giving away over 300 free books and Handy Cars had small red balloons.
“I’ve got two little ones full of wonder, and this is a place where they can play with machines and ask all their questions,” said Paige Freeser, who came up to the expo from Milton. “It’s so great that the Rotary hosts this.”
Greg Rainville, of Georgia, hadn’t been to the expo for a few years and decided to attend this year to see what had changed.
Asked if he had his eye on anything, he gestured toward sheds and wood pavilions from Moose Mountain Creations. “Always,” he said.
Originally published with additional photos in St Albans Messenger: https://www.samessenger.com/news/business/photos-30th-st-albans-rotary-home-recreation-expo-draws-thousands/article_9aabcd46-e4a3-11ee-ae29-1f6be35ec569.html?utm_source=samessenger.com&utm_campaign=%2Fnewsletter%2Foptimize%2Ftoday%2F%3F-dc%3D1710842419&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headline