St. Cloud Area Comic Lovers Visit Lioncon at the River’s Edge

Anime, comic books, video games, and all things nerd livened the River’s Edge Convention Center when LionHeart Games of Waite Park presented LionCon on Saturday, August 27th.

Justin Willard, owner of LionHeart games, organized the event. Planning began in January 2016, but until LionCon, St. Cloud had never seen a comic con-esque event like this.

Conventions like this are sometimes misunderstood. In the last few decades, the term “nerd” has come to be used as a term of endearment rather than an insult. Conventions such as LionCon are an opportunity to bring like-minded people together to celebrate arts and entertainment that they love and that have been sadly lacking in Central Minnesota.

LionCon showcased game displays, comic book and graphic novel displays and artists, toys, and plenty of fans dressed up as their favorite video game, movie, and TV show characters. Attendees played board games and role-playing games and some took part in a cosplay competition.

The first in Central Minnesota, LionCon provided the opportunity for area comic book convention fans to stay a little bit closer to home. Popular conventions pop up annually in the Twin Cities, but in St. Cloud, we have yet to begin a tradition of our own.

Justin Willard hopes to hold the convention again next year, making it even bigger than the success it was this time around. Plans for next year at this point are preliminary, but it seems that the St. Cloud River’s Edge Convention Center can expect a 2-day event for LionCon 2017. Area fans can only hope that LionCon will grow and continue for years to come.

Why Hosting Prom at River's Edge is a Good Idea

One of the most anticipated high school seasons is fast approaching — prom season! Prom is a time for dancing, dressing up and making lifelong memories with friends. Though prom is undoubtedly one of the most unforgettable high school memories, it can be a pain for parents and schools to set up for their kids. That’s why you should book your school’s prom at River’s Edge Convention Center.

Tons of space

No matter the theme, activities, or size of the crowd, the River’s Edge has the space that you can customize to fit your needs. For example, our pre-function space will work perfectly as a backdrop for prom photos. We’ve got 150,000 square feet of space, including a 16,000-square foot ballroom. Download a colored map of the floor plan, or check out our full brochure for more details.

Decorating

At the River’s Edge, you can do all the decorating yourself. Assemble a prom committee, designate a group of art students, or recruit parents or volunteers to help. You also have the option of hiring a professional to do it for you — we’ve got a great list of them on file!

Catering

With the connections we have, you can bet you’ll find tons of catering options for a beautiful evening. Don’t worry about the setup, after party clean-up, or refilling food and beverages throughout the night. We’ve got it all under control.

Equipment Rental

Worried about finding a rental company for prom? Luckily, you don’t have to go through another company to rent your equipment. We’ve got everything you need to host a fun prom: dance floors, pianos, podiums, tables and chairs, microphones, projectors, spotlights and much more. Read our Material Service Price Guide for more information.

We Provide Services

Worried about housekeeping? Not sure if there will be enough parking? Nervous about setting up and executing the perfect slideshow or video? We can help. Just let us know about all your event details and service needs before the event, and our friendly staff will be happy to help.

Planning the perfect prom at the River’s Edge Convention Center makes perfect sense. If we haven’t convinced you yet, contact us with your questions and concerns.

2016 PleasureLand RV Camp and Travel Expo

The 45th annual PleasureLand RV Camp and Travel Expo gets under way on Thursday, February 18, at the River’s Edge Convention Center.

The expo, which started in 1971, is free and open to the public.

There will be more than 100 new RV units taking up the convention center floor. There were 125 units at last year’s show, according to PleasureLand assistant sales manager Vinny Binsfeld.

“Last year we put in more units than we have ever had before,” said Binsfeld, who has worked for PleasureLand for 11 years. “It’s really expanded more and more every year.”

There will be everything from motorhomes, travel trailers, ice houses to pop-up campers at the expo.

The expo goes from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, February 21.

Some of the companies represented at the expo will include Winnebago, Keystone, Thor, Grand Design, Forest River, Crossroads, Cruiser RV and Palomino.

Fitting in all of the RVs on the convention center floor certainly isn’t an easy task for PleasureLand to accomplish.

“The River’s Edge does a great job of working with us,” Binsfeld said. “It’s almost like putting together a puzzle. Our GM does a fantastic job of making it all happen. Sometimes it comes down to a matter of feet and inches to fit all of these units in.”

RVs have come a long way since 1971. Binsfeld said the general public will be amazed by some of the technology advancements if they step into an RV today.

“There are always floor plan and technology changes,” he said. “There are so many more features like bluetooth, LED lights, larger bathrooms. The technology continues to grow and I think people love it.”

PleasureLand has six different locations in Minnesota including two in St. Cloud and Brainerd and one each in Ramsey and Long Prairie.

Upcoming Events at the River's Edge ConventionCenter

River’s Edge has a number of exciting events coming up in the next few months and we couldn’t hold back from giving you a little preview. So mark your calendars because you won’t want to miss these!

St. Cloud Sportsmen's Show - February 5-7

From camping and outdoor equipment to travel and boats, this show will cover everything a sportsman needs to know! This show will also feature two famous speakers, Ted Takasaki and Billy Molls, who will host alternating seminars each day. This event is not just for the avid sportsman because the whole family is invited to attend. We even have unique shows running especially for families, which include (but are not limited to): The Live Trout Pond, The Great American Duck Race, and The Fur-Ever Wild show. For further information, visit stcloudsportshow.com.

St. Cloud Boat Show - February 12-14

You live in the land of 10,000 lakes. You would get real tired swimming through all of them, so how about exploring them in a new boat? The St. Cloud Boat Show has everything you’re looking for, whether it is a new pontoon to enjoy family weekends with, or a top-of-the-line fishing boat that makes fishing a whole new experience. Why settle for less when you can have the best? Help picture yourself in the best ride of the summer. Don’t forget to check out booths showcasing the latest engines, electronics, fishing gear and accessories to make this summer better than the rest! For more information, visit stcloudboatshow.com

Camp and Travel Show - February 18-21

Sick of the cold and eagerly waiting for spring? The Camp and Travel Expo is a great place to check out all the latest campers and trailers to make this summer’s vacation one to remember. Pleasureland will feature about 100 different recreational vehicles, which will make any camper’s mouth drop. Event planners say that February is the kick-off for planning summer activities, so don’t fall behind and make sure not to miss out on any specials going on during this expo. Best of all, admission is free!

Central Minnesota Farm Show - February 23-25

Come check out the Central Minnesota Farm Show, which showcases agricultural equipment, electric motors, barn flooring, milking equipment and other products in the Agriculture & Forestry field. There will be more than 300 professional vendors from the five-state area on hand to talk about their new products and services for the upcoming year. Come hang out with those who know how to grow.

Central Minnesota Wellness Expo - March 5

New Years Eve resolution dying down? Not sure what more you can do? The Central Minnesota Wellness Expo has all the information you need from health to fitness and even a little general wellness. This is your go-to expo where you can learn all you need to know about health and wellness without the pressure of buying anything. The show will also feature amazing guest speakers who will talk about how to unlock your full potential. To get a sneak peak of which exhibits will be there, and a preview of what you can expect, visit centralmnwellnessexpo.com

St. Cloud Home Show - March 11-13

One of the most anticipated events of the season is St. Cloud Home Show put on by the Central Minnesota Builders Association. This show will have more than 200 exhibits displaying enchanting landscapes, breath-taking carpentry and vendors from all over the state to help with those special projects that make your house a home.

There will also be seminars on DIY gardening, beekeeping, home building and selling tips as well as a project and play area for the kids and a fish fry and music on Friday. The show will also be auctioning off a brand new home. Don’t miss out on this year’s biggest show. With more than 5,000 people attending, you’re going to want to come early.

Check in with Facebook and Twitter to keep up with up-to-date information on these upcoming events and other sneak peaks!

Made in Minnesota Expo Draws a Large Crowd

The second annual Made in Minnesota Expo took place November 21 at the River’s Edge Convention Center.

More than 100 Minnesota-based businesses had stands set up during the event, which lasted from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The expo focuses on businesses that produce their products based out of the Land of 10,000 Lakes and allows them face-to-face interaction with customers to pitch their products.

Admission was free, courtesy of St. Cloud Red Wing Shoe Store. A large crowd of more than 1,000 came out to partake in free samples, games and giveaways and also got the chance to speak with local business owners.

It was also a good chance for the public to get some Christmas shopping done with a lot of products being on sale during the event.

The crowd was able to sample hot dish, nachos, granola, chocolate — among other things — during the expo.

The crowd could also register for a $500 stay at Cragun’s Resort in Brainerd. The public could also explore a luxury ice house and the comforts that come with it in the west corner of the room.

A large contingent also gathered to take part in a session with the Trivia Ninjas. There was a bounce house on hand for the youngsters to burn off some energy while their parents did some exploring.

In addition, free massages were available from HealthSource Chiropractic.

The expo was presented by Smude Sunflower Oil and Townsquare Media.

Some events happening in January at the River’s Edge include the Pleasureland Scratch and Dent Show on New Year’s Day, the St. Cloud Wedding Expo on January 10, the St. Cloud Craft Beer Tour on January 16 and Catholic Charities’ Mardi Gras on January 23.

MADE IN MINNESOTA EXPO PREVIEW

The Made in Minnesota Expo returns to the St. Cloud River’s Edge Convention Center this Saturday, November 21st. The expo, presented by Smude Sunflower Oil and Townsquare Media, runs from 10 am to 4 pm. Admission is free, courtesy of St. Cloud Red Wing Shoe Store. The expo focuses on businesses that are based out of Minnesota or produce their products in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

Looking to start your holiday shopping? You’ll find something special, unique, and made in Minnesota, as most of the retailers will have items for sale. 

Last Year's Expo was the first year for the event, and it drew quite a crowd. So if you’re looking for a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon, stop by the River’s Edge Convention Center this Saturday for the 2015 Made in Minnesota Expo!

While you learn more about some local companies, test out some free hot dish samples (what’s more Minnesotan than hot dish?) and register to win a $500 stay at Cragun’s Resort in Brainerd. You can also test your brain power by playing trivia with local trivia masters, the Trivia Ninjas. For the youngsters, there will be a bounce house to help them burn off some energy.

The expo allows businesses face-to-face interaction with customers and allows them to pitch their products from all over the state. With a cold weekend anticipated, come inside to the River’s Edge Convention Center and see what products our great state has to offer! 

This year's vendors include:

Fall Fun Fest 2015 at River’s Edge Convention Center

The Joy Christian Center’s Fall Fun Fest drew a packed crowd to the St. Cloud River’s Edge Convention Center this Halloween.

The event (which went from 1-5 p.m.) was free and open to the public and collected donations for area food shelves.

Originally held in a shed, the event started in 1998 and only drew in about 100 people. Seventeen Halloweens later, the Fall Fun Fest was held in the River’s Edge Convention Center and was expected to host around 5,000 - a successful improvement.

Kids that came to event played games and left the River’s Edge with their trick or treat bags filled with candy. Most of the parents and kids in attendance were decked out in their best costumes.

There were more than 100 games to play and a puppet show was also performed. Kids could also have their faces painted, burn off some energy in bouncing castles, and have their pictures taken in front of Halloween backgrounds.

Was your halloween just as successful? Leave us a comment and tell us about it!

The 2015 Kid’s and Parent’s Expo

The annual Kids and Parents’ Expo sponsored by McKay’s took place October 10 at the River’s Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud.There were 44 vendors on hand for the annual event, which brought in kids and parents of all ages. Kids 12 and under were admitted free to the event.

The event was sponsored by Once Upon A Child, Geyer Rentals, Savers, Little Saints Academy, Robinson’s Fruit Shoot and Royal Tire.

Kids were able to take their pictures with Elsa from “Frozen” and Spider-Man during the day. Elsa also sang songs and read Usborne Books throughout the day. Spider-Man didn’t want to reveal his secret identity, so he kept quiet.

Kids were also able to look at a St. Cloud Fire Department fire truck up close and hop on inflatables in the “Bouncing Kidz Zone.” People seemed to enjoy the bouncing castle the most, which featured a long slide.

Kids were also able to pet animals at the Expo and try on Halloween costumes.

The River’s Edge Convention Center can easily accommodate all events from concerts, weddings and socials, trade and consumer shows, conventions and conferences for a wide array of businesses and group sizes.

The River’s Edge Convention Center includes 150,000 square feet of space, 19 meeting rooms, 60,000 square feet of exhibit space, a 16,000 square foot ballroom and flexible square configurations available for all types of events.For more information, contact us online or by phone at 1-800-450-7272.

Make Your Event A Success At River's Edge

Guest Blog: DAYTA Marketing

When looking for a home for DAYTA U St. Cloud 2015, all of us at DAYTA Marketing knew we needed to go BIG. After the past couple years, our one-day social media marketing seminar for local business owners and marketers has risen dramatically in popularity, and we expected attendance to double or triple. When looking for a venue, we wanted a space that could fit everyone attending and we also needed the right equipment and technology. We went to River’s Edge Convention Center and found everything we were looking for!

The staff at River's Edge worked with us on planning the event from the time we booked until the last box was packed up at the end of the day. Their assistance made everything less stressful and made the days and weeks leading up to the big day go more smoothly. Our Director of Marketing, Ellie Backes, was able to do walkthroughs and the Convention Center's team provided great insights and tips for room layouts.

“They made themselves available the day of and checked in consistently throughout the day,” said Ellie. “I've had events where our event coordinator is nowhere to be found the day of. This definitely gave us peace of mind that if anything came up we'd have support to get it handled.”

The night before DAYTA U, we were able to go to River’s Edge Convention Center and start setting up some of our supplies and to get a feel for the rooms. We realized we needed to make some last-minute adjustments to the room layouts, and the convention center staff was there to help in an instant. We were incredibly impressed with the staff’s responsiveness and customer service.

The morning of our event we had some late registrations, which wasn’t a problem. The staff was there to add some chairs to rooms to accommodate our new students. They also helped us make extra copies of print materials. Our attendees gave us feedback about how smoothly the whole day went and how impressed they were.

During the day of a big event, small things can really create a big dent, but we had peace of mind the whole day. River’s Edge Convention Center truly is the premier destination for the best events in Central Minnesota!

Make Your Dream Wedding Come True at River's Edge Convention Center

Create a truly remarkable wedding at River's Edge Convention Center in the heart of historic downtown St. Cloud, MN. With our wide variety of rooms and spaces, you can accommodate weddings as small as 50 guests or as large as over 1,000. Our space provides you limitless options for customization to fit your theme as well as giving you breathtaking views of the mighty Mississippi River.

Find inspiration from the photos of past weddings held at our venue and start your planning today!

Drapery and lighting transformed this room into a bright and beautiful reception.

Natural light coming in from the large windows facing the river brighten up this simple and gorgeous reception.

Guests can enjoy the gorgeous view of the river from this room.

Need to accommodate a lot of guests? That's okay!

Personalize your wedding to fit your theme with decorations and colored linens.

Decorating your tables and chairs with bright colors makes the whole room POP!

The gorgeous lighting in this wedding transformed the whole room.

Our Glenn Carlson Room is perfect for accommodating a large number of guests.

There is no end to customization options with our rooms.

Imagine having your reception here and your name up in lights!

We provide you with a list of preferred decorators who have experience transforming our rooms.

Decoration options are endless.

There is no detail too small when it comes to planning a wedding!

There is no shortage of elegance at River's Edge Convention Center.

Now that you have some ideas, start planning your wedding and reviewing our preferred decorators' work! Congratulations on your engagement, and we hope to see you soon at River's Edge Convention Center!

Key Benefits of Off-site Meetings

When planning a meeting, there are many factors to think about. We look into a time that is available for everyone involved, the agenda and (if we’re lucky) perhaps plan for a sweet treat, but often the location itself gets overlooked. There are many reasons why the location can sometimes be as important a factor as all other considerations. Choosing an off-site location such as St. Cloud River's Edge Convention Center can maximize meeting time and efficiency in many different ways.

Distance from the Desk
Leaving the office helps individuals step away and stop thinking about outside duties. It takes away the possibilities of being distracted when client comes in or sending unrelated emails during a meeting. A new location helps co-workers compartmentalize their time and focus on current topics, which allows for more quality participation.

Spark Creativity
Getting away from day-to-day operations can help open space for new and innovative ideas- people think out of the box when thrown into a new situation. Utilizing a different space may also allow a greater amount of people to gather from various locations and meet with new individuals for an outside perspective. Mentoring relationships bloom during these kinds of meetings.

Enhance Presentation Opportunity
A new location can give presenters more opportunity for the use of equipment that may not be supported in the office, which makes for a more effective presentation. The speaker can be better equipped to engage the audience with a larger screen or more easily manipulated tools. The more engaging a presentation is, the more the team will likely remember and take new skills to the office with them.

Boost Team Morale- There is something invigorating about breaking habit. With co-workers, it can be a great way to infuse a team building opportunity. An off-site meeting allows the opportunity for face-to-face interaction, which is too often lost in the use of technology. Being present allows one to view the body language and other social cues that otherwise are missed. Even the opportunity to eat a meal together affords co-workers to have more relaxed time with one another to build a relationship and understanding beyond usual business. Also, an off-site meeting makes teams feel like there was more care taken in preparing for the meeting,  making the team members feel more valued. Boosting the team’s feeling of importance can translate into more commitment and loyalty.

A meeting’s location is a large factor in its ability maximize the time co-workers have with one another.  An off-site meeting at River’s Edge Convention Center may re-energize and bring passion back to those you work with. Plan your next event at an off-site location, and see the difference it makes in your team.

Consumer Shows Bring Guests To The St. Cloud Area!

It’s that time of year again -- consumer show season! Here at the River’s Edge Convention Center, we proudly boast many large consumer shows every season. We host the Car, Home, Boat, RV, and Farm Show among many others!

These shows are held in our large exhibit halls. Our exhibit halls range in square footage from 8,000-26,000, allowing us to host events of many sizes. Our Terry Haws Center is our main consumer show room. The center is divided into three sections -- Terry Haws A is 16,000 square feet, B is 17,325 square feet, and C is 26,000 square feet. These rooms can be divided in half or joined together with other sections for an even larger space. In addition to exhibit space, we also offer many other services to make the shows go smoothly. Some of the services we offer are audio/visual equipment, basic housekeeping, electric and utilities, seating and staging, parking, and more. In addition to these services, we can also help staff events. Our staffing services include ticket takers, door guards, security, and piano tuners, among others.  

Every year, these consumer shows bring a large crowd to the St. Cloud area. Luckily, the St. Cloud area has many local attractions for our visitors to see after they attend a consumer show. In the downtown area surrounding the convention center alone, there are 41 unique dining options. Some of these dining options include Jules Bistro, Brother’s Bar and Grille, and The White Horse. To see the full list of dining options, please visit The St. Cloud Downtown’s website. The downtown area also offers an exciting nightlife scene. Some of the more popular bars include the Red Carpet, Cowboy Jacks, and the Press Bar. To view the full list of nightlife, click here. In between sessions at the consumer

shows, guests can go shopping at some unique boutiques and shops in the downtown area, including Accents, Fitzharris Ski and Sport, Rush Boutique, and more. When the night comes to an end, guests can rest their heads at one of St. Clouds luxurious hotels, such as the Le St. Germain Suite Hotel, and the Kelly Inn, among others.

Overall, the consumer show seasons offers an event for the whole family. With all of the attractions that the St. Cloud premiere area has to offer, this will be a trip worth taking! We hope to see you soon!