Red Deer is the first stop on the Expo tour this Saturday, April 2, from 4 p.m. – 10 p.m. at Westerner Park’s Exhibition Hall and Stockmen’s Pavilion. Hitting Lethbridge on April 9, the Expo will return in 2023 with the addition of their two other usual stops: Medicine Hat and Grande Prairie.
New this year, the Food Expo is getting technological with a token bracelet. After purchasing a ticket at $22.50, guests then purchase tokens at 50-cents each to exchange for food and drinks samples. While normally tokens are in paper form, this year the Expo has introduced an electronic bracelet which can be uploaded to include as many tokens as desired. A station will be designated for token purchases, accepting cash, debit, or credit. Vendors price samples at cost of the product.
For Red Deer, Meilleur says the Expo will put a spotlight on local restauranteurs and brewers.
“It will give restaurants that stage to talk about themselves and their products and show people the new things that they’re doing,” he said.
And as always, a local charity has been chosen to attend. Once again this year will be the Red Deer Firefighters Children’s Charity, accepting donations towards ensuring all children have equal access to learn and play. Their big red charity engine will be selling 50/50 tickets at the Expo.
Tickets can be purchased online or at the door.
