Recreation Northwest announces the fourth annual Recreation Northwest EXPO will be held free for the public on Saturday, February 25, 2017 at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal, 355 Harris Avenue, Bellingham, WA. in the historic Fairhaven district. The event is open Saturday from 1 p.m. – 6 p.m. Visitors are invited to learn from EXPO Exhibitors and connect one-on-one with representatives from Washington State’s best recreation companies and organizations, bike and running shops, outfitters, outdoor activity clubs, stewardship organizations, gear manufacturers, local and regional events and races, and outdoor media companies. Recreation Northwest expects 70 exhibitors and 700 attendees with room for more vendors and larger booths! The expansion of the scope of event is with the intent of bringing people from around the region to Bellingham for the weekend to see what Outdoor Recreation in Washington State has to offer. “The City of Bellingham is proud to support the regional promotions of the EXPO and Summit through our Tourism Promotion Fund,” said Pinky Vargas, Bellingham City Council, Tourism Commission Chair. “The EXPO is a fun way to shop around and learn about all the cool places, people and gear to get Washingtonians outdoors. Moving to the larger Fairhaven venue on a Saturday afternoon will be an approachable way for visitors from near and far to come check out all the EXPO and Bellingham have to offer for the weekend.” The categories and exhibitors include: Gear & Equipment– SMC*, GEAR AID, Trail Boss, Square One Map Company LLC,Bellingham REI, Swift Industries, Trayvax, Valet Rent A Box and Kite Paddle Surf. Tours, Coaching, Health & Wellness – American Alpine Institute, FIT School, Whatcom Family YMCA, Bellingham Sports and Spine Physical Therapy Clinic, Mt. Baker Mountain Guides,S&J Natural Products Stewardship & Outdoor Activity– Recreation Northwest, Basecamp Bellingham, Washington Trails Association, Washington Water Trails, Community Boating Center, Pacific Northwest Trail Association, Conservation Northwest, NOLS, Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance Regional Races – , Bellingham Traverse, Quest Adventure Races, Ragnar Events, Ski to Sea, Tour de Whatcom, Chuckanut Classic/Mt Baker Bike Club. The Exhibitors will provide scheduled demonstrations throughout the day. These on-site, mini-courses will feature climbing & mountain rescue, quick and simple strengthening exercises, gear repair, map reading, bike camping and more to come. Door Prizes for visitors will be offered too, including a Fit School session, avalanche course, outdoor gear, Stand UP (SUP) Paddleboard rental and free entries to your favorite races! “We’ve been cautious about our growth with our EXPO over the past three years,” said Todd Elsworth, co-Executive Director, Recreation Northwest. “Last year, we added our Outdoor Recreation Summit to serve the needs of the industry on a statewide level in support of the work that Senator Ranker and Governor Inslee have accomplished in Olympia, highlighting the economic value of recreation for us all. This year, we are intentionally expanding the scope of both events and moving the EXPO to a Saturday afternoon. Our goal is to provide a venue to show off the beauty of Bellingham and the scope and power of the outdoor industry in Washington State.” Recreation Northwest EXPO & Summit sponsors include City of Bellingham, Outdoor Industry Association, Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism, KAFE 104.1, Choose Whatcom, Port of Bellingham, Mount Baker Experience, Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Springhill Suites Marriott, Adventures NW Magazine, Boundary Bay Brewery, WhatcomTalk.com, REI and Gear Aid. For more information see recreationnorthwest.com
