Expo 2025 featured cars, candy, and raffles
By Justin Tiemeyer - Contributing Writer
28 Mar. 2025
Lowell Community Expo was an event hosted by the Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce on Saturday, March 22, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Lowell High School, promoting over 120 area business, organizations, and community groups.
Baker Lowell was the 2025 exclusive business sponsor for Expo, and some folks from Baker gathered in the high school cafeteria, overlooking the commons area, where a handful of cars from the dealership were staged. Charlie Jeffrey is the general manager of Baker Buick GMC of Lowell and Baker Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. “Going to Expo is never about selling cars,” Jeffrey said. “It’s just about furthering our relationship, being out there, letting the community know that we are part of it.”
Whereas Baker was the business sponsor, Lowell High School was the 2025 exclusive site sponsor. At the official Lowell Red Arrows booth, students sold sweatshirts, hats, t-shirts, and decals in order to fund prom. There were also a number of LHS organizations, including Woman Up, a club where members hold dress sales for dances and stock bathroom products.
Arrowhead Golf Course was the Golden Ticket sponsor for the event. Attendees acquired Golden Tickets in the Lowell Buyer’s Guide, Lowell Ledger, or at the Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce booth in the entryway, and those who deposited the tickets at the Arrowhead booth, secured a chance to win LowellBucks and sponsor gift baskets from business spotlight sponsors, including Herbruck’s, Greenridge Realty, Hulst Jepsen Physical Therapy, Adventures by Lori, and PFCU.
Speaking of Greenridge Realty, the West Michigan real estate broker had one of the most unique booths outside of the house-shaped booth at Rogers Neighborhood Realty. Greenridge set up a mini-lounge in the entryway with a couch, two chairs, and a table full of goodies.
Business spotlight sponsor, Hulst Jepsen Physical Therapy, also had an eye-catching booth, with a treadmill and digital display that allowed the professionals at their booth to conduct a gait analysis for runners interested in hopping on the equipment.
At the end of the main hallway, the Lowell Youth Sports Foundation held its inaugural sports equipment swap. Earlier in the month, LYSF gathered donations of gently-used equipment for all sports and all ages, sorted the donations, and set up what they gathered at Expo. Because LYSF does not believe that access to gear should limit access to play, they distributed the sports equipment for free or by donation.
In the gymnasium, there was no shortage of entertainment, from ballet performances, courtesy of Lo MI Studios, to the Lowell Middle School jazz band as directed by Dale Latva. Not on the main stage, though no less entertaining, were the Herrington trash can mascot and the Easter bunny, brought to Expo by Lowell United Methodist Church.
For many families, Expo was a game of “how many treats and prizes can my children jam into a Meijer bag?” Fortunately, there were more bags provided at booths, beyond the Meijer booth, in the entryway. Many of the booths had fun features aimed specifically toward children, like the penguin balancing game at the Imagination Academy booth and the sprawling play area at Curiosity Corner.
Advanced Eyecare Professionals had a replica of Ivan, one of the minions from the popular children’s film series, “Despicable Me,” hanging over their booth, and optometrist Dr. Sam McNeill explained why. “Ivan helps with people who feel shy about eye care visits,” McNeill said.
Expo was also a great opportunity to meet new additions to community favorites, like the new agents at Rogers Neighborhood Realty. At the Lowell Ledger booth, visitors could enter to win a grill set, and they could also meet John Moy, who recently joined the Ledger team as an account executive. Similarly, those who stopped by the Litehouse YMCA booth could meet Lisa Lea, the organization’s new executive director.
In addition to new members of existing organizations, there were also new organizations. One that caught the attention of many in attendance was Lowell Friends of the Flat, a nonprofit, formed at the end of 2024, to address the buildup of invasive Eurasian milfoil in the Flat River. Funds from every Lowell Friends of the Flat t-shirt sale went toward milfoil mitigation efforts.
With over 120 area businesses, service groups, churches, and government agencies, it was impossible to touch upon all of the goods, services, and networking opportunities available at the 27th annual Lowell Community Expo. Additionally, each attendee’s interests were invariably different, so the only way to gain what you need from Expo was to attend
