When Joelle Bohn, owner of Joey Children’s Apparel, decided in 2013 to create an event for children, she never imagined it would become so big so quickly.
“It’s crazy to see it grow over the course of the last five years,” she said. “People keep coming back and booths keep coming back and trusting me, and it’s quite incredible actually.”
In fact, Kids Expo has been so successful she’s starting to think beyond Yorkton.
“I would love to go to Regina,” she said. “We’ve talked about doing it in Regina because I think that market there hasn’t been tapped into at all.”
That does not mean she will not continue to put it on in Yorkton, though, and every year brings something new.
“This year, we got laser tag,” Bohn noted. “So that was a big hit with the kids, and the adults.”
Laser tag was one of a number of activities kids could participate in such as mini-golf, animal scooter rides, a maze, ceramic painting, dance classes, bouncy castles and science experiments.
Funds raised through the event this year went to the St. Alphonsus School playground project. The school had its own booth where kids could have their photo taken with Star Wars characters for a minimum donation of $5.
There was entertainment in the form of cheerleading, dance, a yo-yo master, a magician and a dog agility and tricks show.
Also, throughout the two days of the event, favourite children’s characters wandered around the Gallagher Centre greeting people and having pictures taken. There were Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Disney princesses, superheros, minions, Peppa Pig and George, Buzz and Woody, Olaf and Kristoff, and even Mickey Mouse made an appearance or two.
Although hundreds of hours go into pulling off the Kids Expo, Bohn modestly chalks up the success largely to good timing.
“I think everybody at this time of year is cooped up and they want to get out,” she said. “So, doing it in March is probably the best time of year because people want something to do on a weekend in March.”
She also noted it’s not always easy to find good family entertainment.
As such, Kids Expo draws from a wide area. Bohn said she noticed quite a few people coming from Regina and Manitoba this year.
“It’s not just locals, it’s drawing a crowd from all over because it’s not really done in a big market area around here,” she said.
