City helps with this year’s event set for this weekend
The Delavan Train Show, expanded two years ago to multiple downtown locations, will again house displays at the American Legion Hall and other businesses.
Delavan residents Brad and Sara Deschner coordinate the show, which has been offered free for the past eight years.
The show outgrew the Legion Hall and for the past two years has also occupied other downtown businesses. This year, the show has grown beyond what the Deschners can accomplish on their own.
“The Delavan Train Show has grown beyond what one family can manage – and that is a good thing,” said Brad Deschner. “Sara and I realized that the show is bigger than we are, and needed to be secured to ensure its future. It was not a solid plan to have the show hinge on us, our personal budget, and availability.”
Deschner said Whitewater radio station WSLD has helped with marketing and preparations for the show for the past two years, but the Deschners needed more assistance given the magnitude of the show.
“Consequently, we reached out to the city to ask for help,” Deschner said.
The city agreed to help, and the Delavan-Delavan Lake Area Chamber of Commerce will host this year’s event, which is slated for Saturday and Sunday at the Legion and downtown businesses.
“The Delavan Chamber of Commerce has agreed to sponsor the event. This alleviates our need to personally fund the show,” Deschner said. “We have received great support from local businesses and the City of Delavan as well to help with the planning of the event. All of this helps solidify the future of the show. It also makes growth for the show possible.”
For the past two years, the Delavan Train show expanded to display trains at multiple locations downtown. The new format of the show worked well, Deschner said, and the show has expanded yet again for 2016. The layouts this year will include many favorites from past shows as well as new exhibits, he said.
“Most of the layouts have something interactive for the visitors – either a seek-and-find activity, push buttons that allow the visitor to operate accessories on a layout, or running a train on a layout. The layouts are at a height that is easy for all to view and the focus is on entertaining visitors of all ages,” said Sara Deschner.
The child-focused displays set the Delavan show apart, Brad Deschner said.
“We have been to many train shows where the displays and exhibits are not focused around children,” he said. “It is hard for children to come and see the colorful, animated layouts and not be able to touch or be involved. We have great exhibitors who are interested in entertaining and educating.”
Free parking is available for the show downtown, and signs will direct visitors to displays at each participating business.
“The show is sure to be a fun weekend,” Deschner said. “There is always a buzz in downtown Delavan during the event.”
Show hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free, and food and beverages are available for purchase.
