371 overpass: Where we go from here.
January 21, 2026
Brainerd Lakes Home Show & Expo: March 20-21, 2026
The area's LARGEST tradeshow!
Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce
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- Friday, March 20, 2026 | 12PM-7PM
- Saturday, March 21, 2025 | 9AM-5PM
- Essentia Health Sports Center, 502 Jackson Street, Brainerd, MN 56401
- Adults $6 • Seniors $5 • Kids Free!
Live entertainment and bounce houses are FREE with admission! Kids 15 & under are free with a paid adult. Qualifying seniors are 65+. Pay at the door with cash or check.
Mark your calendar for the Brainerd Lakes Home Show & Expo on Friday, March 20 (12PM-7PM) and Saturday, March 21 (9AM-5PM)! Presented by our partners at Advantage Home Pros and Window Galaxy of Minnesota, this event will highlight 170+ regional businesses showcasing their products and services. This larger than life tradeshow has something for the whole family:
- 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!
- 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!
Adults $6 • Seniors $5 • Kids Free!
This event is open to the public and all ages! Learn about Brainerd Lakes Area businesses, view demonstrations, enjoy tasty food, and so much more!
Live entertainment and bounce houses are FREE with admission! Kids 15 & under are free with a paid adult. Qualifying seniors are 65+. Pay at the door with cash or check.
Where to Park
PARKING AVAILABLE AT THESE LOCATIONS
- Sports Center Main / East Parking Lot
- Sports Center North Parking Lot: Exhibitor Parking (Attendees may use if space is available)
- Side Streets (Do NOT block entrances / driveways)
- Westgate Mall (2 blocks west of Sports Center)
- Brainerd VA Clinic Parking Lot: Saturday only! No parking on Friday!
NO PARKING
- No parking along Jackson St
- No parking along NW 4th St
- Department of Veterans Affairs parking lot on Friday
Event Photo Gallery
Friday, March 20, 2026 (12PM-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 21, 2026 (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!
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
Kid's Play Area
Bring the kids to the kid’s Play Area and enjoy some indoor fun! Sponsored by Prime Cleaning, the Kid’s Play Area is sure keep the little ones in your group preoccupied with lots of fun activities.
- 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!
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!
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:
- Grab your Lakes Proud card at the event.
- Visit exhibitors with their logo on your card and have them stamp it—each stamp gets you closer to a prize!
- Once you’ve got all the stamps, complete the bottom of your card.
- Drop your completed card in the prize box before you leave for your chance to win BIG!
- 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).
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 lemon bars, 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
- Giovanni’s Pizza
- Variety of pizzas
Participating Exhibitors To Date
- 3 Cheers Hospitality
- A2Z Home Solutions; ABC Seamless Lakes Area
- Acclaimed Concrete Coatings
- Aquarius Home Services
- Advantage Home Pros
- AGC Agency
- All Elements
- American Door Works
- American National Bank
- American Waterworks
- B-Dirt Construction
- Backyard Furniture
- Bath Fitter
- BLADE
- Bobcat of Brainerd
- Brainerd Boulders
- Brainerd General Rental
- Brainerd Lakes Area Psychiatry
- Brenda Larson Independent Scentsy Consultant
- Brenny Family Funeral Chapel
- Bridges of Hope
- Carr’s Tree Service
- CentraCare Heart & Vascular Center
- Central Minnesota Dermatology
- Central MN Adult & Teen Challenge
- CMoore Custom Builders
- Confidence Learning Center / Lions
- Crosslake Community School
- Crow Wing Power
- CTC and MC Fiber
- Cutco Cutlery
- DBS Residential Solutions
- DeckTek
- Erlandson Epoxy
- Expert Insulation
- Explore Brainerd Lakes Welcome Center & Gift Shop
- Exterior Pro
- EZ Home Solutions
- Fabricators Unlimited
- Five Star Home Improvements
- Forever Barnwood
- Generator Power Systems
- Gerhards
- Girl Scouts of MN and WI Lakes & Pines
- Gutter Shutter
- H&H Contractors
- Harper Bennett
- Hidde Construction
- Honey Done Lights
- Hunt Utilities Group
- Ideal Closet
- Jack Pine Brewery
- Jacobson Excavating and Landscaping
- Karl’s TV and Appliance
- Keep Out Pest Control
- Lakes Area Restorative Justice
- Lakes Choice Roofing & Exteriors
- Lakes Country Roofing
- LeafFilter Gutter Protection
- Let’s Go Fishing Brainerd Lakes
- Members Cooperative Credit Union
- Mid Minnesota Federal Credit Union
- Midnight Sun Pools n’ Spas
- Midwest Land Group
- Mike’s Tree Company
- Minnesota Home Improvements
- Minnesota Housing
- Minnesota Regenerative Institute
- Mosquito Shield
- Mounted Eagles
- National Loon Center
- Near & Streeter Custom Builders
- Neighborhood National Bank
- North Country Plumbing & Heating
- Northern Eye Center
- Northland Buildings
- Northland Companies
- Northland Drilling
- Northstar Mobile Washing
- NorthStar Paint and Finish
- Optimal Yardscapes
- Passport Brainerd
- Pella Windows & Doors
- Penmac Staffing
- Pine River State Bank
- Platte River Farm & Flowers
- Price Homes
- Quality Equipment Sales & Service
- R&J Broadcasting
- Reliant Roofing
- Renewal by Andersen
- Renner Roofing
- Rob Mueller Electric
- Roof Maxx of Grand Rapids
- St. Germain’s Cabinet, Inc. and Supreme Counters
- Schmidt Roofing
- SCR – Northern
- Schroeder’s Appliances and American’s Mattress
- St. Francis of the Lakes Catholic School
- Stronghouse
- Sunsetter Retractable Awnings
- Superior Fuel Company
- Tastefully Simple by Amy
- TDS Telecom
- The Outreach Program
- Threshold Architecture
- Tri County Insulation, Concrete Lifting & Painting
- Tri County Professional Builders
- Vrienden Umbrellas
- Weichert Realtors – Tower Properties
- Wensmann Contractors
- WhiteBox Marketing
- Window Galaxy of Minnesota
- Wings Airport Cafe
- Wings Financial Credit Union
- Wow Look Now (Minnesota Rainbow)
- Your Home Improvement Company
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