To register, please read the following information, then scroll down to the Registration Form and submit.
Vendor Booths (Complimentary): Community Resource
Contacts:Mechell Karnes, Executive Director mkarnes@highlandseniors.com 937-763-1904 Lin Packard, Executive Assistant Lpackard@highlandseniors.com 937-393-4745 (M, T, W, F: 8am-3pm)
2026 Senior Expo Complimentary Vendor Information
Connect with Seniors, Caregivers, Families, and Community Members from Across Southern Ohio
The Highland County Senior Citizens Center’s Annual Senior Expo welcomes attendees not only from Highland County, but also from surrounding communities including Adams, Brown, Clinton, Fayette, and Ross Counties, and beyond. Last year’s Expo featured over 60 vendors and 230+ attendees, providing businesses with an excellent opportunity to connect with older adults, caregivers, and families from across the region.
New Location for 2026!
The 2026 Senior Expo will be held at the Southern State Community College Patriot Center (Gym).
The event’s new location provides additional space for vendors, guests, activities, and attendees while allowing us to invite more businesses than ever before. The Patriot Center also offers more convenient parking for both vendors and seniors.
All the favorites that make the Senior Expo a fun and well-rounded resource fair will return, along with additional vendors and new opportunities throughout the day.
More Than a Resource Fair
Our Senior Expo offers seniors and caregivers not only a well-rounded resource fair and the resources they need to connect with, but also a day of fun and entertainment.
Activities include:
- Bingo
- Costume Contests for Guests and Businesses
- Chair Volleyball
- Live Music by the Senior Center House Band
- Door Prizes
- Food Available for Purchase
- Pumpkin Voting
- Socializing and Entertainment
Promoting a Strong Turnout
We work hard to promote the Senior Expo and create the best marketing opportunity possible for our participating businesses.
The Highland County Senior Citizens Center utilizes multiple forms of media and community outreach to promote the event, including Facebook, newsletters, newspapers, radio, community partners, and other promotional opportunities.
Our goal is to continue growing the Senior Expo each year while encouraging strong attendance from seniors, caregivers, families, and community members throughout Highland County and surrounding communities.
Event Information
Date: Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Location: Southern State Community College Patriot Center 100 Hobart Drive, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133
Expo Hours For Guests To Attend:
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Bingo: Begins immediately following the Expo.
Complimentary Vendor Booth Details
Space is limited.
Complimentary Vendor Booth inquires must receive an official invite from the Highland County Senior Citizens Center to participate
Businesses, organizations or individuals may not share a booth.
Booths must stay up the entirely of the event- from 10am to 2pm.
Each vendor registration includes:
- One card table
- Two chairs
- Listing in the official event program
- Inclusion in the Vendor Spotlight Facebook Video (our 2025 Facebook video received thousands of views)
- Prior to the event opening to the public, a staff member will briefly visit each vendor booth and record a short video.
- Vendors will have the opportunity to briefly share their business name, the services they provide, and who they serve.
- The completed video will be posted on the Highland County Senior Citizens Center’s Facebook page.
- Opportunity to interact directly with seniors, caregivers, and families
- Stage Time recognition and prize announcement
- Opportunity to participate in the Vendor Pumpkin Decorating Contest
- Opportunity to participate in the Vendor Costume Contest
- A picture of you and your staff at your booth posted on our Facebook page- if your logo in on your tablecloth, we’ll be sure to include that in the photo.
Complimentary Vendor Booth Setup
Vendors may choose one of the following setup times:
Monday, October 5, 2026
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
OR
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
7:00 AM – 9:00 AM
All booths must be fully set up and ready to receive guests and be ready for the Vendor Spotlight Facebook Video prior to the event opening to the public by 9:00 AM on Tuesday, October 6
Setup Information
- Vendors should enter through the front entrance of the Patriot Center for unloading and setup.
- Two flatbed carts will be available to assist with unloading.
- Electricity is available if requested in advance and approved. Electrical access is intended for services being demonstrated or provided and may not be used for decorative purposes.
- Booth locations will be assigned in advance for event organization purposes.
- All vendors are expected to remain set up until Stage Time. Early booth tear-downs are not permitted.
- Booth sharing is not permitted. Each business, organization, or individual must register for and occupy their own booth space.
Complimentary Vendor Prize Requirements
To help create a fun and interactive experience for attendees, each vendor is required to provide two gifts valued at approximately $15 each.
The gifts will be used for the following:
Booth Prize Drawing
- One gift will be used for your booth prize drawing.
- Attendees will visit vendor booths throughout the event and register for individual booth prize drawings.
- Please remember to bring tickets or entry forms, pens, and a container so attendees can enter your raffle drawing.
- At approximately 1:50 PM during Stage Time, vendors will be invited to the stage to briefly introduce themselves and announce the winner of their booth prize drawing.
- This provides an additional opportunity for attendees to hear your business name and associate it with you before the Expo concludes. Attendees often stay to hear the prize announcements and see if they are a winner, providing another opportunity for your business to be recognized- and they are waiting for bingo to start.
- Additional information regarding Stage Time can be found under the Stage Time section below.
Bingo Prize Donation
- One gift valued at approximately $15 or more.
- Bingo is a well attended activity. Vendors are encouraged to attach business cards, brochures, coupons, or other marketing materials to their bingo prize for additional exposure.
- Your business will be recognized when your bingo prize is awarded. Businesses are not required to remain for bingo.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
- Booth spaces, sponsorships, and advertisements are available on a first-come, first-served basis and may sell out prior to the registration deadline.
- Booth assignments will be determined by event organizers. Every effort will be made to accommodate special requests; however, specific booth locations cannot be guaranteed.
- The Presenting Sponsor will have the opportunity to select their booth location prior to booth assignments being finalized.
- Vendors requiring electricity for demonstration of services must indicate this during registration. Extension cords must be covered with a flat rug or cord cover to reduce tripping hazards. No extension cords will be permitted for decoration purposes.
- To protect the Patriot Center gym floor, displays, equipment, tables, chairs, and other booth materials must not have exposed metal or surfaces that could scratch or damage the floor. All items placed on the gym floor must have rubber feet, protective pads, or similar floor protection.
- Highland County Senior Citizens Center reserves the right to refuse or revoke participation if a vendor, sponsor, display, or activity is determined to be inconsistent with the mission or operation of the event.
- Businesses may only register for this event for a booth, sponsorship or purchase an ad space if invited by the Highland County Senior Citizens Center.
- Submission of registration constitutes agreement with all event policies, procedures, and terms outlined in the registration materials.