Chamber: Woodbury Community Expo Draws Record Crowd

Press release

More than 6,000 people gathered at the fourth annual Woodbury Community EXPO on Saturday, April 6, for the last major event at the Bielenberg Sports Center.

The dome burst with activity throughout the day as attendees visited with local businesses and organizations at 165 booths, sampled food from area vendors, enjoyed entertainment and kid-friendly activities and registered to win an iPad tablet. 

Organized by the Woodbury Chamber of Commerce, the Woodbury Community EXPO is the largest community gathering of its kind in the East Metro and has been held at Bielenberg since its inception. A free event for all ages, it connects commerce and community under one roof. 

Editor's note: Find photos of the event on Woodbury Patch.

An array of activities and entertainment were held throughout the day including face painting, the Ronald McDonald show, 3M Visiting Wizards, Bruce the Bug Guy, K-9 Demonstration, and the University of Minnesota Raptor Center.  In addition, Woodbury resident and WCCO Chief Meteorologist Chris Shaffer gave guided tours of the WCCO Mobile Weather Watcher Truck and the Woodbury Public Safety Department displayed various vehicles and equipment including a fire truck and squad car. 

Choirs from Footprints Academy and New Life Academy provided musical entertainment and the Woodbury Community Theater’s cast of Nunsense performed selections from their upcoming production.

New this year was the opportunity to win an iPad tablet.  Four tablets were given away during the event. Winners were Elise Williams Mademann`(Nexus 7 donated by Globe University), Teresa Berry, Ludmilla Palkova, (iPad’s donated by Xfinity) and Eugene Johnson (iPad Mini donated by the Woodbury Chamber).

St. Mary’s University of Minnesota was a Platinum sponsor of the 2013 Woodbury Community EXPO. Other sponsors were Parnell & Associates a Financial Advisory Practice of Ameriprise Financial, CenturyLink, Footprints Academy/Peace of Mind Daycare, Minuteman Press, Postal Credit Union, Summit Orthopedics, Superior Landscape & Irrigation, The Urgency Room, Wellington Management, Inc., The Woodbury Bulletin, Woodbury Magazine, and Xcel Energy.

Although EXPO was the last hurrah at the dome, the event will be back at Bielenberg next year in its newly expanded and updated facility.

“We achieved record attendance at the 2013 Woodbury EXPO,” said Barbara Tuccitto Warren, President, Woodbury Chamber of Commerce. “And with a new facility that will be doubled in size, we look forward to even more visitors next year and additional opportunities for vendors,” she added. Heidi Hickey, Member Services Director, Woodbury Chamber of Commerce, said she has had a lot of great feedback from exhibitors.  “Our follow up survey has indicated exhibitors are very pleased by the turn out and that they will be back again next year – we expect this to be an event with a lot of growth potential.  We are looking forward to a larger venue next year to house this growing show.”

Tuccitto Warren was hired in January and Hickey started in November 2012 with the Woodbury Chamber of Commerce.  This was the first year coordinating the Woodbury Community EXPO for both new employees. Under their leadership, attendance increased and exhibitor booth space sold out.

According to first time exhibitor John Schlorhaufer from JB Custom Carpentry, Inc., “It was an excellent show for us.  Turnout was great from start to finish – we will definitely do it again next year.”

For more information on the Woodbury Community EXPO go to Facebook.com/woodburyexpo or contact Heidi Hickey at the Woodbury Chamber of Commerce, 651-578-0722 or email to chamber@woodburychamber.org.