WRJW hosts the 21st Annual Senior Citizen's Fair and Expo
WRJW will host the 21st Annual Senior Citizen Fair and Expo, Saturday, June 3, in the Picayune Memorial High School Gymnasium. In 1996 as the baby boomer generation was beginning to come of age, Delores Wood, former WRJW station manager, decided Picayune needed an event specifically for that age group. Wilson, with the help of the WRJW staff, quickly got to work organizing what is now known as the Senior Citizen Fair and Expo.
Starting with less than 20 booths, the event has taken on a life of its own over the years, this year hosting 65 booths. The fair has also grown in popularity with seniors of the community who were quick to get on board with the Expo and now help with providing the live entertainment. This year the seniors have lined up Roy Hepler, Ed’s Classic Country Karaoke and Shallow Creek for the live entertainment.
Along with live entertainment the Fair provides seniors with information on a huge variety of topics specifically for them, from travel, cruises, healthcare, home care, senior legal advice, financial information, investments, insurance, and much more.
“It’s much more than a health fair but there will be many free health screenings, including hearing screenings, blood pressure and blood sugar screenings, spinal screenings, eye screenings and more,” WRJW office manager Denise Wilson said. “These free health screenings are a big help to the seniors who attend allowing them check for any possible health problems. In past years these screenings have alerted seniors to health problems they were not aware they had!”
The World War II Museum will be there as well, along with many state, county and city offices with tons of information for seniors. MEMA will also be there, as well as the Mississippi Insurance office and the Mississippi Department of Mental Health.
“This year some new faces will be there,” Wilson said. “All indications are that this year’s fair will be another wonderful success. It will be well represented by health care facilities, state, county and city government offices, businesses and organizations who offer products, discounts or services for seniors and their families, and by state and local political candidates who know that the older American is the one most likely to vote on election day.”
The doors open at 8am but Seniors usually start lining up much earlier than that in hopes of getting one of the goody bags stuffed with interesting items, helpful information, money saving coupons and more.
Hundreds of dollars worth of door prizes are another big part of the day. Door prizes are awarded every hour by participating businesses, and other area businesses, including gifts from WRJW & Swap Shop News. McDonald Funeral Home and Insurance plans to give away three $100 cash prizes throughout the day again this year and many other businesses will be giving out gift cards to local restaurants and stores, as well plants, and many more goodies.
“We give out about 20 prizes per hour,” Wilson said. “So seniors should make the doorprize booth their first stop, that way they can register to win very early!”
At 10:30am WRJW Senior Citizen of the Year will be recognized and awarded a plaque. The Senior of the Year is chosen from the 52 seniors who were recognized as our “Senior Citizen of the Week” on WRJW radio throughout the year.
Seniors will be given an official Fair Directory program book, listing all participating vendors with their contact information which can be used after the fair to contact vendors with services or products seniors may need or want. A concession stand will also be open serving breakfast and lunch, and staffed by the Lady Tide Softball team.
“This group joins us to host the Expo each year,” Wilson said. “In addition to the concessions, Coach Kristi and her girls help set up the booths, they stuff the goodie bags, and then they help the vendors carry in their booth materials. They also help with the clean-up after the fair. This is one of the main fundraisers for the softball team.”
This event is a great way to recognize this influential group of Americans, and to allow area seniors the oppo