Nevada Women's Expo coming to Carson City in October

The Nevada Women's Expo is coming to Carson City this fall, NWE Producer and Coordinator Joye Kinkade said, bringing the traditional Reno venue to the Nevada state capital for the first time in the event's 16-year history.

Kinkade, who along with her mother has been running the expo for the past year, said the 2017 expo features both spring and fall shows, something new from previous years.

The decision to move this year's autumn event to Carson City, she said, was because no space was available in the "Biggest Little City" to suit the NWE at the time it wanted to hold the show.

"Our decision to hold the fall event in Carson this year was due to a lack of open venues in the Reno/Sparks area on the preferred weekend," Kinkade said. "We were approached by the Carson Mall and they presented us with a great opportunity to expand our market as well as that of our vendors."

The Carson Mall will host the Nevada Women's Fall Expo Oct. 14-15.

Kinkade said the new location in Carson City, combined with approaching Nevada Day activities, makes the move a good one for the organization.

"With Nevada Day being celebrated at the end of October we felt like it was a no-brainer for the Nevada Women's Expo to be held in the capital this year and tie into the Nevada Day festivities," she said. "We may decide to have the fall event in Carson every year for that reason as well."

Kinkade said besides timing with Nevada Day, the Carson City venue could give the show broader appeal to rural populations in the region.

"We felt like we could attract new exhibitors, access a different demographic, and reach out into the surrounding communities in the Carson Valley as well as South Reno and Lake Tahoe," she said.

The Nevada Women's Expo traditionally attracts between 2,000 and 10,000 visitors, Kinkade said, depending on such variables as weather and other competing events in the area.

Kinkade said the Carson Mall is a versatile venue that will permit both indoor and outdoor exhibits and activities for visitors.

"The property at the Carson Mall allows us a lot of creative freedom," she said. "We will be adding quite a few new activities to the Expo."

Among these is a harvest festival that includes a harvest moon hayride through Carson City's historic downtown and west side. There will also be a farmer's market in the mall parking lot along with food trucks and live music.

A sock hop fundraiser dance put on by the Battle Born Dolls is on the outdoor schedule, too, Kinkade said.

The expo's more typical shopping exhibits will be featured inside the mall where goods, services and programs are offered and on display for visitors, she said.

Another departure from expo tradition will be a change in event days, Kinkade said. Instead of Saturday and Sunday, the expo in Carson City will open Friday and run through Saturday.

"This year we will open at 3 p.m. on Friday afternoon and run until 8 or 9 p.m.," she said. "We will kick off the Saturday morning events at 9 a.m. with a fundraiser pancake breakfast and a classic car show, in addition to the farmer's market and inside exhibits, and will close at 5 p.m."

Admission to the Nevada Women's Fall Expo is free this year, Kinkade said, which is also a first for the show.

"Swag bags filled with goodies, special offers and coupons will be given to the first 150 people in the door on each day," she said.

The Nevada Women's Expo helps individuals promote their businesses, clubs, hobbies and ideas, Kinkade said. The event is held annually as a way to help entrepreneurs gain exposure in the community.

"We are the go-between for them and the general public," she said. "We don't discriminate and consider all who are interested in participating."

This includes men, Kinkade said. While the NWE is about celebrating women in business and the businesses that celebrate women, she said it's open for everyone to come and enjoy.

"Although we cater to women because they are generally the decision makers, we also provide attractions and exhibits that men will appreciate in the hope that they will have a great time if their significant other wants to drag them along," she said. "We try to provide something for everyone."

As an organization, the NWE donates a majority of its proceeds to local charities, Kinkade said, while providing complementary exhibit space to some local non-profits and charities, too.

"We want to promote community by introducing businesses to customers and to other businesses," she said. "We also want to involve the community by promoting services and events, and by giving them much-needed exposure and publicity."

Visit the NWE online here or find it here on Facebook for more information.