By Samantha Sinclair
Staff Writer
LAVONIA — The Lavonia Boat Expo will return to downtown Saturday.
The event will be March 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on East Main Street in front of the gazebo.
Update: The expo was postponed to March 19 due to forecasted weather conditions.
There’s already been a great amount of interest from vendors.
Three local boat dealers – Gordon’s Marine, Lake Hartwell Marine, and N&C Marine – all immediately agreed to return.
Each boat dealer planned to bring six fishing and cruising boats for purchase to the show, even though inventory is low.
Mega Motorsports of Toccoa planned to bring personal watercraft, ATVs and other small vehicles depending on inventory.
As in previous years, a bank officer will be on site to assist with financing for purchases.
The show will include Hartwell Tailspinners radio-control model club, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, J&S Shoreline, Tugaloo State Park, pontoon rental businesses, lake property real estate information and refreshments for purchase.
It will feature expert fisherman Brian Thompson, founder and director of Northeast Georgia “Cat Daddy” Tournament Series.
He plans to share demonstrations and tips for catching catfish on Lake Hartwell.
The event will also include an art show at Sweet Combs of Honey and a raffle to benefit the Lavonia Food Pantry.
The art show, curated by Sweet Combs of Honey Owner LaDonna Andrews, will feature lake-themed original art from a variety of mediums available for purchase.
Many downtown businesses plan to offer special sales or discounts during the event, Poole said.
In fact, 211 Main Street, which is typically closed on weekends, agreed to be open for the event.
A raffle will be held for a leisure package including a white rocking chair and home decor.
Tickets for the raffle will be available for $2 or three for $5 at the event, or may be purchased at the DDA office in the Lavonia Depot.
The Lavonia Boat Expo was first held in 2019 as an idea to bring people downtown.
The 2020 expo was the last public event in the city before everything was shut down due to COVID-19.
The 2022 Lavonia Boat Expo will be the third time the event’s been held, and is sponsored by the Lavonia Downtown Development Authority.
The rain date for the event is March 19.