2025 Brainerd Lakes Home Show & Expo

Description

MARCH 21-22, 2025
Essentia Health Sports Center, Brainerd
A Larger Than Life Community Tradeshow!

ATTEND
Get ready for BIG fun at the Brainerd Lakes Home Show & Expo on Friday, March 21 (12PM / NOON-7PM) and Saturday, March 22 (9AM-5PM)! Presented by Advantage Home Pros and Finken Aqua Systems, this event is a LARGER THAN LIFE showcase you won’t want to miss! Here’s a sneak peek at all the amazing things waiting for you:

• 170+ regional businesses showing off their products and services—whether you’re looking for home improvement tips, local services, or just something new, you’ll find it here!
• Laura Ernst, the one-woman Cirque du Soleil, will be performing 5 FREE shows! Watch her jaw-dropping stunts and hilarious antics that will have you on the edge of your seat!
• Family fun is a must, with: FREE bounce house, live entertainment, face painting, children’s play area, pop-up brewery, tasty food vendors, and so much more!

It’s a fun-filled event for all ages—whether you’re learning about local businesses, watching cool demonstrations, or just having fun with the whole family!

ADMISSION
Pay at the door with cash or check, and enjoy all the live entertainment, bounce houses, and more—all for FREE with admission! Don’t miss this awesome event!

• Adults: $5
• Seniors (65+): $4
• Kids 15 & under: Free with a paid adult!

FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2025
12PM (NOON)-7PM 

• All Day // 170+ Exhibitors
• All Day // Food Vendors
• All Day // FREE bounce house in the Children's Play Area by Lakes Party and Bounce House
• All Day // Pop Up Brewery. Sponsored by Jack Pine Brewery
• All Day // Lakes Proud Stamp Card 
• All Day // Career Expo. Exhibitors will have information for employment opportunities and will be accepting applications.
• ALL DAY // FREE face painting for children by The Painted Turtle Face Painting
• All Day // Large building blocks for creative play in the Children's Play Area. Sponsored by WonderTrek Children's Museum
• 4PM // FREE Live Entertainment, Laura Ernst (Juggler, Aerial, Human Sized Hamster Ball, Acrobatics)
• 6PM // FREE Live Entertainment, Laura Ernst (Juggler, Aerial, Human Sized Hamster Ball, Acrobatics)

SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 2025
9AM-5PM 

• All Day // 170+ Exhibitors
• All Day // Food Vendors
• All Day // Pop Up Brewery. Sponsored by Jack Pine Brewery
• All Day // FREE bounce house in the Children's Play Area by Lakes Party and Bounce House
• All Day // Face painting & glitter tattoos for children by The Painted Turtle Face Painting (cost $5 or more)
• All Day // Lakes Proud Stamp Card
• All Day // Career Expo. Exhibitors will have information for employment opportunities and will be accepting applications
• All Day // Giant Legos for creative play in the Children's Play Area. Sponsored by WonderTrek Children's Museum
• 9AM-4PM // High School Construction Contest (3 high schools- Brainerd, Pequot Lakes  & Menahga)
• 11AM // FREE Live Entertainment, Laura Ernst (Juggler, Aerial, Human Sized Hamster Ball, Acrobatics)
• 11:30AM-12PM // Kid's Donut Decorating sponsored by The Center
• 1PM // FREE Live Entertainment, Laura Ernst (Juggler, Aerial, Human Sized Hamster Ball, Acrobatics)
• 3PM // FREE Live Entertainment, Laura Ernst (Juggler, Aerial, Human Sized Hamster Ball, Acrobatics)
  
  

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT 
LAURA ERNST: A One-Woman Cirque du Soleil!

Get ready for an unforgettable show with International Award-Winning Juggler Laura Ernst—featured on America’s Got Talent! From jaw-dropping stunts to sidesplitting comedy, she’s got something for everyone! Here’s a taste of what’s in store:

• Juggling: Watch in awe as Laura juggles everything from balls to flaming torches—prepare for some mind-blowing tricks!
• Human-Sized Hamster Ball: Ever wondered what it’s like to roll around inside a giant hamster ball? Now’s your chance to find out!
• Acrobatics: Get ready to be amazed as Laura performs gravity-defying flips, bends, and twists—showing off some serious athleticism!
• Aerial Acts: Hold your breath as she takes to the skies with stunning aerial stunts that’ll leave you speechless!

Whether it’s death-defying or ridiculously funny, Laura’s performance will keep you on the edge of your seat and laughing the whole way through! Don’t miss out on this thrill ride!

SHOW TIMES: SHOWS ARE FREE WITH ADMISSION!

• Friday, March 21 (2 Shows!): 4PM and 6PM
• Saturday, March 22 (3 Shows!): 11AM, 1PM and 3PM
  
  

SPONSORED BY: 

KID'S PLAY AREA

Ready for some indoor fun? Bring the kids to the Kid’s Play Area, where the excitement never stops! Thanks to our awesome sponsor, TDS, this space is packed with activities that will keep your little ones entertained for hours. Here’s a sneak peek at the fun in store:

• FREE bounce house from Lakes Party and Bounce House – Let them jump, bounce, and giggle their way through endless fun!
• Face painting & glitter tattoos by The Painted Turtle – Watch their faces light up with a magical design or sparkle they’ll love showing off!
• Large building blocks and giant Legos by WonderTrek Children's Museum – Time to get creative and build something awesome with these huge blocks!

So, let the kids play while you sit back and relax—this is where fun happens!

SPONSORED BY: 

CONSTRUCTION CONTEST
SATURDAY, 9AM-4PM 

Get ready for some high-energy competition as three local high schools (Brainerd, Pequot Lakes, and Menahga) go head-to-head in a garden shed building showdown! Watch as students, teachers, and mentors team up to create the ultimate 8'x8' garden sheds, battling it out for the top spot! Here’s what you can expect:

• Teams of 4 students, 1 teacher, and 1 mentor business working together to build the best garden shed in record time.
• The clock is ticking, and every second counts in this thrilling timed competition—who will build it the fastest (and best)?
• Judging will take place at the end of the day, with prizes awarded to the top 3 teams—1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will take home bragging rights and epic prizes!

It’s a mix of creativity, teamwork, and pure skill—so grab your seat, cheer on your favorite school, and get ready for an action-packed event!

CONSTRUCTION CONTEST MENTORS:

LAKES PROUD STAMP CARD GAME

Join the Lakes Proud movement and get ready for a fun and exciting game at the Brainerd Lakes Home Show & Expo! It’s your chance to explore the event, support local businesses, and win awesome prizes! Here’s how it works:

1. Grab your Lakes Proud card at the event.
2. Visit exhibitors with their logo on your card and have them stamp it—each stamp gets you closer to a prize!
3. Once you’ve got all the stamps, complete the bottom of your card.
4. Drop your completed card in the prize box before you leave for your chance to win BIG!
5. Winners will be contacted the week of March 27, and will pick up their prizes at the Brainerd Lakes Chamber (224 W. Washington Street, Brainerd).

It’s a great way to discover local businesses, have some fun, and maybe even walk away with an awesome prize. Don't miss out—let’s show some Lakes Proud spirit!

FOOD & BEVERAGE VENDORS

• Jack Pine Brewery:
  • Craft beer & seltzer
    
• East Coast Hospitality / Sage on Laurel
  • Tipsy meatballs, pulled pork sandwiches, breakfast burrito (Saturday only), cookies or chocolate mousse, water & pop
    
• K&D Kettle Corn
  • Kettle corn and cotton candy
    
• Wings Airport Cafe
  • Hot beef sandwiches with mashed potato and gravy on homemade bread
  • Chicken wild rice soup
  • Award winning chicken chili
  • Cold ham or turkey sandwiches
  • Cookies
  • Fresh caramel rolls (served Saturday morning until gone)
    
• Ak's Homemade Treats
  • Fry pies
  • Baklava brownies
  • Brown butter stuffed cookies (6 different flavors)
  • Donuts
  • Gluten free items (cookies & crisps)
    
•  Jay'z Hot Dog'z 
  • Specialty hot dogs

PARTICIPATING EXHIBITORS

• 371 Construction
• ABC Seamless Lakes Area
• Acclaimed Concrete Coatings
• Advantage Home Pros
• AGC Agency
• Ak's Homemade Treats
• American Door Works
• American National Bank of MN
• American Waterworks
• Artisan Window and Door
• Aspire Insurance Services
• Aquarius Home Services / Kinetico
• Augusta Garage Door
• B-Dirt Construction
• Batteries Plus Bulbs
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of MN
• Brainerd Area Youth for Christ
• Brainerd Boulders Supply and Design
• Brainerd Lakes Area Drug Education
• Brainerd Lakes Area Psychiatry
• Brainerd Lakes Sewer Service (Wruck Sewer & Portable Rentals)
• Brenda Larson Individual Scentsy Consultant
• Brenny Family Funeral Chapel
• Bridges of Hope
• Bridges to Home Health Care Chartered
• Capital Construction
• Caribbean Beach Tanning Salon
• CentraCare Heart & Vascular Center
• Central Lakes College
• Central MN Adult & Teen Challenge
• CoMitted 365 Roofing & Exteriors
• Confidence Learning Center
• Cosmetic & Family Dentistry
• Crow Wing County Community Services / BLADE
• Crow Wing Power
• Crow Wing Window & Door
• Culligan Water Conditioning
• Custom Boat Lift Vinyl
• Cutco
• Dakota Storage Buildings
• DBS Residential Solutions
• Decktek
• East Coast Hospitality / Sage on Laurel
• Ecowater Systems
• EdgeWorks
• Erlandson Epoxy Floor Coatings
• Explore Brainerd Lakes Welcome Center & Gift Shop
• EZ Home Solutions
• Finken Aqua Systems
• Garage Door Store
• Generator Power Systems
• Genesis Window Cleaning
• Gerhard's Kitchen and Bath
• Girl Scouts of MN and WI Lakes and Pines
• Hoffman Weber Construction
• Holden Electric Co.
• Home Depot Installation Services-Exteriors
• Huff Entertainment
• HUG Hydronics
• Irrigation Service
• Jack Pine Brewery
• Jay'z Hot Dog'z
• JM Inc
• K&D Kettle Corn
• Kruchten's Heating & Air Conditioning
• Lake Country Seamless Gutters
• Lakes Area Habitat for Humanity
• Lakes Area Restorative Justice Project (LARJP)
• Lakes Choice Roofing & Exteriors
• Lakes Painting & Power Washing
• Lakes Party and Bounce House
• LeafFilter Gutter Protection
• Let's Go Fishing Brainerd Lakes
• MC Fiber
• Members Cooperative Credit Union
• Mid-Minnesota Federal Credit Union
• MIDSOTA Floor Coatings
• Midnight Sun Pools n' Spas
• Midwest Machinery Co.
• Mike's Tree Company
• Minnesota Awnings
• Minnesota Regenerative Institute
• Minnesota Rusco
• Motion 46 Media
• Mounted Eagles
• National Loon Center Foundation
• Nelson Sanitation & Rental
• Nordic
• North Country Plumbing & Heating
• North Haven Construction
• Northland Arboretum
• Northland Buildings
• Northland Companies
• Northland Companies Insulation
• Northland Companies Supply
• Northland Drilling
• Northland Sotheby's International Realty
• NorthStar Mobile Washing
• NorthStar Paint and Finish
• Olsen Groundeffex
• On Systems
• Optimal Yardscapes
• Party Time Rental
• Pella Windows and Doors
• Penmac Staffing Services
• Perrault Construction
• Pine River State Bank
• Quality Equipment Sales & Service
• Quality Fabricating
• R&J Broadcasting
• Radtke Service
• Renewal by Andersen
• Renner Roofing Inc.
• RG Insurance/Strong Insurance Services
• Rise Innovations
• RNTR
• Rob Mueller Electric
• Roof Maxx
• Schmidt Roofing
• Schroeder's Appliance Center & America's Mattress
• SCR - Northern
• Select Garage Door Company
• Setri Barrel Sauna
• Ser Wellness Services
• St Francis/All Saints Catholic Churches / St. Francis of the Lakes School
• St. Germain's Cabinet - Supreme Counters
• Superior Fuel
• Superior Mechanical
• Tastefully Simple by Amy
• TDS Telecom
• The Center
• The Outreach Program of Brainerd Lakes
• The Painted Turtle Face Painting
• The Pulse 104.3 FM
• The Teehive
• Thelen Heating and Roofing
• Threshold Architecture
• Tri County Foam Insulation
• Tri County Professional Builders
• Unique Movers
• W.W. Thompson Concrete Products
• Weichert Realtors - Tower Properties
• WhiteBox Marketing
• Window Galaxy of Minnesota
• Wings Airport Cafe
• Wolf Creek Truss
• Wolf Track Energy
• WonderTrek Children's Museum
• Wood n Log Restoration & Maintenance
• Wow Look Now (Rainbow)

EVENT COORDINATORS

Sue Galligan, Brainerd Lakes Chamber
(218) 822-7119
sue@brainerdlakeschamber.com

Ashly Gilson, Mid-Minnesota Builders Association
(218) 829-4982
mmba@brainerd.net

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!