By MATT LINDSEY

OGDENSBURG -- The Ogdensburg Boys and Girls Club’s largest fundraiser of the year celebrates 41 years March 24-26 with boats, RVs, live entertainment, vendors, bounce houses, carnival games and a chance to win $5,000.

“We hope to get five to seven thousand people through the doors,” said Tom Luckie Jr., club executive director.

The expo is held at the OFA Golden Dome, 1100 State St. Friday hours are 3 to 9 p.m. Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from noon until 4:30 p.m.

“The expo has become a good sign that spring is coming and is a great opportunity for people to get out and support the club and vendors,” Luckie said. “I encourage people to get out and see some familiar faces.”

Admission is $5 for adults, $4 youth and a family rate of $20 for five or more. Admission includes the exhibit and craft area as well as free entertainment.

“Each child will receive a ticket for a free Disney stuff animal,” he said. “Kids can take the ticket to the carnival part of the expo to get their stuffed animal.”

A staple of the expo is the raffle for a chance to win the $5,000 grand prize.

Raffle tickets are on sale for $10 with the $5,000 first prize courtesy of the Blevins Auto Group.

Other prizes include second and third $1,500 gift certificate from Gardner’s Flooring and Furniture, fourth prize Family Membership to Northern Physical Therapy, fifth prize $1,000 given by SLFCU, sixth prize Technical/Entertainment Package from NBT Bank and seventh prize $1,000 gift certificate from Save A Lot.

There will be an early bird draw March 17 of two $500 prizes donated by the Oddfellows and the Moose Lodge.

Tickets are available at the club and committee members will be at various business including SLFCU, Price Chopper and Wal-Mart where you can purchase your ticket.

A separate, smaller raffle will offer hundreds of prizes including dozens of gift certificates. Tickets are $2 for that raffle.

Expo proceeds are used to support club activities of over 1,400 boys and girls through membership and community outreach.

“Our numbers are up – even though Ogdensburg and the surrounding areas have seen a population decrease, we are serving more children than ever,” he said.

The operating costs for the club is around $360,000 and the expo generally raises about one quarter toward that. A net profit of $90,000 is the goal, Luckie said.

Youth are charged $6 a year to participate in the program.

Expo attendees can expect to see dozens of exhibits and displays of boats, autos, trucks, local businesses and crafters, an inflatable obstacle course will be offered at the carnival portion of the expo that also includes several games and activities designed for children.

There will be banks, medical organizations, construction businesses and many other booths from various organizations.

A full lineup of crafters and vendors will sell their wares in the gym with an overflow behind the bleachers. Live entertainment will include live music, dance groups and OFA talent.

A live auction is slated for Sunday morning with prizes to include tickets for Nascar and to see the Toronto Bluejays play, among others.

There will be familiar foods ready to purchase including hotdogs and hamburgers, French fries, snow cones, candy apples and lemonade.

For more about expo contact 315-393-1241.