By Brett Fisher
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Photos by Brett Fisher. A woman gets a makeover demonstration Friday night at the Nevada Women’s Expo inside the Carson Mall. -
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Retro Radio Dolls perform Friday night outside of the Carson Mall main entrance. -
Platform heels at the Nevada Women’s Expo inside the Carson Mall. -
A shopper browses products and vendor booths at the Nevada Women’s Expo Friday night at the Carson Mall.
For the first time in its 16-year history, the annual Nevada Women’s Expo opened in the Nevada state capital Friday night with a ribbon cutting by Carson City officials.
Traditionally a Reno event, the Nevada Women’s Expo gave Carson City the nod to this year’s autumn event because suitable space was found at the Carson Mall instead of in “The Biggest Little City,” NWE Producer and Coordinator Joye Kinkade had said.
“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.”
Carson City’s history with Nevada Day festivities also factored into the decision, she said.
“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.”
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 them 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.
The Fall Nevada Women’s Expo opened Friday night from 5 to 9 p.m. It opens again Saturday morning at 9 a.m., running all day until 5 p.m.
Admission to the Nevada Women’s Fall Expo is free this year, Kinkade said, which is another 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.”
