Annual bash welcomes back winter visitors

Once again the community is rolling out the red carpet for the Yuma-area's winter visitors at the annual Welcome Back Winter Visitor Bash.

This year's event will have about 100 booths by local businesses, agencies and organizations offering information about the services they provide, said Adrianne Wagner, marketing manager for the Yuma Sun, which produces the event.

The bash will take place Tuesday at the Yuma County Fairgrounds, with the gates opening at 9 a.m. Activities will go until 1 p.m. Parking and admission are free.

The best way to access the event is to park off 32nd Street and enter the fairgrounds through the main entrance.

In addition to the booths, the event will feature live entertainment throughout the day, and food will be available for sale.

Wagner suggests that those attending bring a chair, get a cup of coffee and sit and enjoy the entertainment and the crowd.

“It's a fun annual event,” she said.

And you don't even have to be a visitor from the north to come out and enjoy the day and learn more about local businesses, she said. “All are welcome.”

The bash was started about 15 years ago by the Yuma Sun to provide an opportunity for local businesses to showcase their services and acquaint the winter visitors with what they have to offer.

The vendors will represent a broad range of the business community, including retailers, restaurants, health care providers and insurance agents, Wagner said.

There also will be some nonprofit organizations and churches to let people know about the services available as well as volunteering opportunities. Yuma Regional Medical Center and the Yuma County Library District also will be participating.

In addition, Yuma Sun circulation department will be on hand to sign up people to receive the newspaper and to conduct a survey to determine where winter visitors are from, what their needs are and how the community can serve them better.

Joyce Lobeck can be reached at jlobeck@yumasun.com or 539-6853. Find her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/YSJoyceLobeck or on Twitter at @YSJoyceLobeck.