Christmas Expo News

Make-It/Take-It

Junior elves are invited to visit Rudolph’s Craft Corner at Christmas Expo 2019 at the Plaza Resort & Spa Conference Center in Daytona Beach, FL. The Craft Corner will be open on Saturday, July 20 from 10am – 3pm and elves can stop in to make a project to take home with them. Projects include ornaments, jewelry, decorations, even friendship bracelets! Coloring will also be available. All elves must be accompanied by an adult. Say hi to Elf Holly when you arrive!

Christmas Expo is July 18-20, 2019.

Grammy nominated singer/songwriter, Judy Pancoast, will be performing at Christmas Expo in Daytona Beach. Judy is known for her infectious Christmas hit, “The House on Christmas Street” which can be heard each Christmas season on radio stations across the country. In addition, houses all over the world feature the song in their animated lighting shows. Judy will be debuting a brand new Christmas song at the Expo.

Christmas Expo is July 18-20, 2019 in Daytona Beach, FL. We couldn’t be more excited!

Join us for Dinner at Joe’s Crab Shack on the Daytona Beach Pier

We’ve reserved the entire top deck at the flagship Joe’s Crab Shack restaurant on the Daytona Beach pier for a fun Christmas Expo event. You’ll enjoy a buffet-style dinner* and dessert, music, a cash bar and an opportunity to relax, network and get your Ho-Ho-Ho on! And it’s all included in your Conference Pass registration. Huge thanks to our Daytona Beach partners for joining with us to bring this merry and bright evening to you.

Friday, July 19, 2019

Special guest appearance by beloved singer, Judy Pancoast! Judy is the singer/songwriter behind The House on Christmas Street and will be debuting a brand new song!

• A Conference Pass is required for admission
• Vendors receive 1 pass per booth purchased
• Pre-Show or Specialty workshop tickets do not include a dinner pass
• Tickets will be available for spouses/partners of pass holders. Pricing information will be posted when available.
• Must be 16 or older to attend

Christmas Expo is the original international conference dedicated to do-it-yourself home decorators, lighting installers and commercial businesses. We know Christmas!

The Plaza Resort & Spa Conference Center
600 North Atlantic Ave, Daytona Beach, FL 32118

Hotel Reservations

The Plaza Resort & Spa is now sold out. We are working with A Room With A View to handle overflow hotel reservations.

Email: reservations@aroomwithaview.net
Phone: 800-780-4343     (Mon-Fri 9-5 CST)

• When you contact A Room With A View, tell them you are looking for reservations for Christmas Expo in Daytona Beach, FL.
• They will work with you to secure the lowest available rates at the best available hotels within walking distance to The Plaza Resort & Spa Conference Center.
• All reservations processed by A Room With A View are automatically waitlisted for rooms at The Plaza should cancellations occur within the group block at the discounted group rate.
• This is a free service and there are no cancellation or processing fees.

Cancellations

If you already have a reservation at The Plaza Resort & Spa and you need to completely cancel it (not modify it), do not call the hotel directly.  Please call A Room With A View to cancel at 1-800-780-4343. By calling A Room With A View, they’ll be able to give your room to another attendee wishing to stay at the host hotel.

The Plaza Resort & Spa Conference Center

If available, rooms are $99 Sunset view | $119 Coastal view | $139 Oceanfront | $159 Suites. Negotiated room rates are for 7/14 through 7/22, based on availability

All rooms are plus a $22/night resort fee. Resort fee includes:

• Free valet or garage parking
• Free Wi-Fi
• Local and 800 phone calls
• Access to the in-house fitness and business centers
• Swimming pool, lawn games, pool toys, bicycles, pool/beach towels and chairs and daily newspaper Monday through Friday
• $12 beverage credit and 2 free bottles of water in the room
• Includes the first hour of water sports rental equipment fee during your stay

Hotel Amenities:

• Beachfront (traffic free)
• Full service European spa, hair and nail salon
  • Christmas Expo hotel guests receive 10% off spa services
• Staffed convenience market
• Valet or garage parking
• Fitness Center
• Business Center
• Outdoor pool and pool games
• Watersport equipment rentals
• Poolside Bar and Grill
• Lobby Bar
• In-house restaurant
• Organized activities
• Short walk to the Boardwalk and Daytona Beach Pier
• 15 minutes from Daytona Beach International Airport
• 1 hr and 13 minutes from Orlando International Airport

The Plaza Resort & Spa Conference Center
600 North Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach, FL 32118
866-500-5630

These cookies were featured in our “Straight from Mrs. Claus’ Recipe Box” class

Pecan Pie Cookies have a thin flaky crust with a layer of the amazing, nutty, caramel-y pecan pie filling we love so much! These are the perfect cookies for any occasion.

Ingredients

• 1 prepared single pie crust (homemade or purchased)
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1/2 cup pecans chopped
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup corn syrup
• 2 eggs
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• OPTIONAL: 1/4 cup semi sweet or milk chocolate chip for decorating

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Combine butter, pecans, brown sugar, corn syrup, salt and eggs. While constantly stirring, cook on the stove-top over medium-low heat just until thickened. (You don’t want it dry, just slightly thickened, about the consistency of pudding). Remove from heat and set aside.
• Unroll dough and using a 3″ cookie cutter, cut out circles. Gently fold about 1/8-1/4″ up on the edges.
• Spoon 1 tablespoon of the pecan mixture into each circle.
• Place on a parchment lined pan (it’s important to line it) and bake 8 minutes or until filling is just set. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack.
• OPTIONAL:  Place chocolate chips in a small Ziploc bag. Microwave about 15 seconds or until mostly melted. Snip off a tiny corner of the baggie and drizzle chocolate over the cookies. Cool until set.

Chef Joe Patrick, Eat Cake Productions
Dallas, TX

Christmas Expo is heading back to Dallas, TX!

After looking at numerous cities, it was that great Texas hospitality that was the deciding factor. We’ve just returned from Dallas where contracts were signed and Christmas cookies were eaten (yes, they baked Christmas cookies for us!) and we know you’re going to LOVE the new location – it couldn’t be any better if Santa had picked it himself.

The Mesquite Convention Center, just northeast of Dallas, is a perfect facility for us. Offering easy parking and easy access, the vendor hall and the classrooms are within steps of each other. No more running up and down stairs!

In addition, the facility is attached via a short, enclosed walkway to the Hampton Inn & Suites, Mesquite. It boasts a large lobby and a large pool deck, perfect for meeting up with friends old and new, as well as that all-important networking. If you haven’t been able to snag a reservation in the Hampton, our backup hotel is the TownePlace Suites Dallas/Mesquite and it’s right across the street!

See you in Mesquite!