By ADAM ATKINSON

OGDENSBURG -- The biggest fundraiser of the year for the Ogdensburg Boys and Girls Club is set to kick off March 23, 24 and 25.

The 42nd annual Ogdensburg Expo, featuring a packed exhibit hall at the OFA Golden Dome, 1100 State St., brings out thousands every year and is the major supporting fundraiser of the organization.

Concessions, carnival games, exhibits featuring automobiles, boats, crafts and products of all kinds will once again be set up for the three-day event. Live entertainment is planned, including local musical acts and dance groups. A highlight this year will be a display of Claxton-Hepburn’s DaVinci surgical machine.

“There are not a lot of fundraisers around here that compare to it,” said Tom Luckie Jr., OBGC executive director. Luckie said there is something for everyone at the event, with attendees coming to look at boats, or other products, hear music, support the club, or just to meet friends and get out of the house at the end of winter.

Luckie said Wednesday, March 14, that most of the vendor spots were now sold.

The event is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the organization, the executive director said. The club operates with a budget of just over $366,000 and the proceeds from the fundraiser make up about a quarter of that, he said.

“We don’t do any other major fundraisers,” Luckie said.

The executive director said proceeds from the event allows any local child to join the club for a fee of $6 a year. “And no one is ever turned away due to inability to pay.”

Luckie said that planning for the Expo begins in September. The club’s 23-member board is active in organizing the event and working with the 400 volunteers who help make it a success, he said.

“We kind of spread out the duties to keep it organized,” said Luckie.

There will once again be a raffle at the Expo, and this year's first prize will be $5,000 courtesy of Blevins Auto Group. Second and third prize will be $1,500 gift certificates from Gardner's Flooring & Furniture. Fourth prize will be a family membership from Northern Physical Therapy and fifth prize will be a $1,000 gift certificate from Carbino's Jewelers. Sixth prize will be a $1,000 Save-a-Lot gift certificate and seventh prize will be $1,000 from Benefit Services Group.

Tickets cost a $10 donation.

The drawing will be held Sunday, March 25, the last day of the Expo. Ticket-holders need not be present to win.

The club will hold an early bird drawing for Expo tickets on March 17 for two $500 prizes donated by NBT Bank and Moose Lodge 814.

Raffle ticket sales have been good said Luckie, “But until they are all gone we are not happy.” Raffle tickets are available at the Boys and Girls Club or from any of the OBGC board members.

Admission to this year's Expo is $5 per adult, $4 per child, and $20 for a family of 5 or more. The cover price pays for admission to the exhibit and craft area as well as free entertainment.

To participate in the Expo as a vendor or exhibitor, call 315-393-1241 to reserve a space, or email obgc@hotmail.com.

The OBGC was established in 1964 to serve boys of the Ogdensburg area to provide them with educational, recreational, social skills and other positive traits. Admitting its first ever girl member in 1975, today the Ogdensburg Boys and Girls Club serves more than 1,500 youth from Ogdensburg and St. Lawrence County, through membership and community outreach. The club features a staff of 3 full time and 12 part time employees.

For more information about the club and its youth enrichment programs, log on to www.obgclub.com, or call 315-393-1241.

The main stage entertainment schedule for this year’s expo is:

Friday, March 23

3 p.m. Expo Opens

3:30 p.m. Ribbon Cutting Opening Ceremonies- Honoring those Who Make a Difference

4 p.m. OFA Jazz Rock

4:30 p.m. Julie’s Dance Studio

6 p.m. Ogdensburg Boys and Girls Club Choir

6:30 p.m. OFA Jazz Band

8 p.m. Burn the Evidence Band

Saturday, March 24

10 a.m. Expo Opens

10:30 a.m. The Lighthouse Band

11:15 a.m. Ogdensburg Boys and Girls Club Choir

Noon, St. John’s Conservatory Players

1 p.m. Ogdensburg Dance Studio

2:15 p.m. Father Dennis and the Faithful Jazz Band

3:15 p.m. Band Room Band

4:30 p.m. Hot Dog Eating Contest sponsored by The Wolf

5 p.m. Julie’s Dance Studio

6:30 p.m. Pat Duffy

Sunday , March 25

Noon, TBA

12:30 p.m. Live Auction

1:30 p.m. Julie’s Dance Studio

3:15 p.m. Starlights

4 p.m. Grand Prize Drawings