This past Wednesday we hosted our annual KHA Vendor Fair! With over 200 people and 35 vendors in attendance, it’s safe to call our first event of the year a success. We are very grateful to everyone who showed their support and helped to make this event happen. From the KHA staff who helped setup/takedown and run the event, to the vendors who took the time to spend their day with us, everyone who participated played a very important role in the KHA 2024 Vendor Fair.
The annual vendor fair is a great opportunity for our paid providers to network amongst each other. Representatives from after-school and summer programs are also able to come and learn about how the vendors can help enhance their programs.
Leading Up to the Big Day
During the weeks leading up to the vendor fair, a lot of preparation took place. There were multiple walk throughs of the space, meetings with the businesses who helped beautify the fair, and lots of communication with the vendors. In addition to all the planning efforts, we made sure to spread the word about the fair so we could have a great turn out.
The day before our event, we spent a lot of time setting up tables, chairs, signage, and thank-you bags for all the vendors. We got in some great exercise completing all these tasks.
The Day Of
A few hours before the fair, many members of the KHA staff came out early to help finish setting up. We put up parking signage, laid out refreshments, and helped vendors set up their booths.
When it was 11am, the vendor fair officially began. The space came alive with all the music, laughs, and conversations. It was fun to see everyone networking and enjoying themselves. With 35 vendors in attendance, there was a lot to see and do. Lots of door prizes were also given away, thanks to some of the vendors bringing gifts.
Some of My Favorite Vendors
I was able to visit many of the booths during the fair, and I really enjoyed speaking with them. Some of my favorites were ICY SCI LLC, Nature Tree Hill Center, and The Elite360 Experience. ICY SCI is a fun and educational science experience that aims to help students develop a lifelong interest in science. There were some fun demonstrations at the booth including a shattering bouncy ball and snow making.
I also learned about Tree Hill Nature Center, which is made up of 50 acres of trails, a Florida Natural History Museum, butterfly and hummingbird gardens, and native animals. Lastly, I really enjoyed creating a fun memory with my work bestie at The Elite 360 Experience booth. This business brings 360 and boomerang photo booths to events to help you capture memories in an elite way.
A Special Thank You To...
In addition to the vendors who helped make the vendor fair possible, there were also some other businesses that assisted us in making our event extra special.
The Jacksonville Fairgrounds Expo Center hosted us,
M&M Balloons put up the lovely balloons,
Destination Planning Corporation put up the drapes,
DJ Byrd Sanchez provided us with music,
Heaven’s Oven Catering provided smash burgers for lunch, and
COJ Parks and Recs allowed us to use some of their tables and chairs for the booths!
Conclusion
We had a great time at this year’s KHA Vendor Fair, and we look forward to putting on more events in the near future. Thanks again to everyone who helped this day run smoothly.
By: Madison Beckford