Baby Bonanza

Baby Bonanza will be crawling with moms, dads, kids

admin — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 03:44:49 +0000

By BRET LIEBENDORFERPublished: Sunday, April 4, 2010 8:30 AM EDT

Suburban News Publications

All things mom, dad, baby and child will be under one roof at the upcoming Baby Bonanza & Kids Expo.“I’m a mom with two young kids, and there was nothing out there like this,” said Kendra Nicastro, founder of K.C.’s Creative Events. “Raising a family is tough.”Now in its fourth year, the event — set from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 10, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 11, at Veterans Memorial, 300 W. Broad St. in Columbus — targets young families with kids up to 10 years old.

Nicastro said there are a number of wonderful events for children, but hers is the largest in Ohio and the only one that includes expecting mothers.

The highlight of the event, Nicastro said, is variety. Vendors at the event include topics from day care, ultrasound, family photographs and financial planning.“I want it to be a one-stop shop,” she said.To ensure variety, vendor categories are limited.

“We want every vendor to be successful,” Nicastro said. “We don’t oversaturate any category.”

New this year is an expanded format that will take last year’s one-day event at the Aladdin Shrine Center and move it to Veterans Memorial for a two-day event. Last year, 3,000 people attended; Nicastro said she expects that number to increase, and there are more than 100 confirmed vendors this year.

Additional features of the event include interactive play areas, educational seminars and a green pavilion that will feature organic and ecofriendly products.

In the future, Nicastro said she would like to expand to neighboring states. In the meantime, a similar expo is being held April 24 and 25 in Cleveland.

To liven things up, the events also feature entertainment, such as a challenge for dads that involves pushing a doll in a stroller around an obstacle course, and a diaper derby for those too young to walk.

“It’s pretty goofy, but it’s a lot of fun,” Nicastro said.

Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for grandparents and $3 for children ages 3 and older. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the March of Dimes Foundation. Each day, the first 50 moms will receive a free gift bag and all dads will receive the book ABCs for Expectant Dads by Todd Barrett Lieman.

For more information, including a schedule of events, visit the Web site babybonanza.net.

As Seen in the March issue of Columbus Parent Magazine

admin — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 03:07:37 +0000

Baby Bonanza & Kid’s Expo!

Ohio’s largest maternity, baby and child expo returns this year as a 2-day event on April 10 and 11 at Veterans Memorial. You will have the opportunity to visit with a wide variety of exhibitors and discover new products and services, attend educational seminars for parents, enjoy family-friendly entertainment and visit the new Green Pavilion featuring organic and eco-friendly products! Check out the Dad’s Challenge, Diaper Derby Races and interactive play areas. Each day, the first 50 mom visitors will receive a free Mommy Gift Bag and all dads will receive the book ABC’s for Expectant Dads, by Todd Barrett Lieman. Go to www.BabyBonanza.net for more information, including a schedule of events and ticket information.

Have You See Us In The News?

admin — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 01:52:19 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

Becoming a parent and raising a family is a difficult blessing and Kendra Nicastro knows first-hand what that is like. Being a mother of two young children, as well as having a background in event planning, Nicastro realized there weren’t any events specifically catered to expectant parents and young families and took the initiative to form her own company, K.C.’s Creative Events, LLC. creating the Bonanza & Kid’s Expo. In 2007, The Baby Bonanza & Kid’s Expo was “born”, and in just three years, the Expo has become one of the largest consumer maternity, baby and kid’s shows in the country, specifically focusing on families with children ages 0 - 10 years of age.   

“Raising a family is difficult. You need to gather a lot of information to make informed choices such as what hospital should you go to? What daycare should you choose? Where can you buy unique items for your baby and family?” Nicastro’s goal is to produce an educational and fun community event, one where attendees can gather a wealth of information from businesses and organizations, enjoy educational seminars and entertainment, but also shop for fun items for the family. Nicastro says another reason she created this Expo is “because I wanted to allow business of all sizes, large and very small businesses, the opportunity to market their products and services at an affordable cost. Many of the Expo’s exhibitors are women-owned businesses offering hand-made and unique items and our attendees love having a variety of companies at the show.”   

Nicastro and The Baby Bonanza & Kid’s Expo has received national recognition by winning the Show Manager of the Year award from The Expo Group in 2008, and has also been nominated by her exhibitors for the Trade Show of the Year and Show Manager of the Year presented by TSEA, as well as Honorary Recognition in the StartUpNation Home-Based 100 Competition.  

The event has been produced in Columbus and Cincinnati attracting consumers from all over the state of Ohio and beyond. Now in its fourth year, the Expo has grown to include Cleveland. This year’s Expo, held in Columbus and Cleveland, will feature over 100 exhibitors, educational seminars, entertainment, diaper derby baby races, baby and toddler fashion shows, a dad’s challenge, green pavilion, NICU reunion and interactive kids play areas, including a Princess Tea Party. 

Columbus Event:

Saturday April 10 - Sunday April 11, 2010

Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Sunday: 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Veterans Memorial

300 W Broad St

Columbus, OH 43215

$5.00 Adults, $4.00 Grandparents, $3.00 Kids 3-years-old and up, Kids 2 and under FREE

 Cleveland Event:  

Saturday, April 24 – Sunday, April 25, 2010  

Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.  

Sunday: 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.   

Cuyahoga Convention Center  

638 Transportation Boulevard  

Garfield Heights, Ohio 44125  

$5.00 Adults, $4.00 Grandparents, $3.00 Kids 3-years-old and up, Kids 2 and under FREE   

Each year, a portion of the proceeds benefit The March of Dimes, the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health that is dedicated to improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality  

For the future, Nicastro hopes the show will continue to grow at a steady pace and may produce the Expo in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. Nicastro adds, “We are pleased with the growth of the Baby Bonanza and Kid’s Expo and we want to continue to make it a quality event that has something for everyone in the family.”  

The Baby Bonanza and Kid’s Expo is currently accepting exhibitors and sponsors for the 2010 expos in Columbus and Cleveland. For more information, call 740-972-1471. Event information is located on the event Web site at www.BabyBonanza.net.

New and Improved Website!

admin — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 22:24:32 +0000

We are SO excited to have our website new and improved - Thank You to the Indie House Collective! Our new site is bright and fun and we hope you enjoy checking it out!The Baby Bonanza and Kid’s Expo is crawling closer… if you have a company that is interested in exhibiting, please contact us. If you are a parent, aunt, uncle, grandparent or friend, save the dates and we hope to see you there. There is something for everyone!