Fun and Function fill the bill at The Avenue Viera Boomer Bash & Senior Expo

The purpose of the The Avenue Viera Boomer Bash & Senior Expo Nov. 18 at the former Sports Authority is fun, and the side benefit is function.

Live music, food tastings, fun things to see and do, and free giveaways and great prizes always draw record attendance, but a true five-star event must also be life-changing for the better, the organizer said.

“We get a lot of information on things people want to enjoy, and we get the best ideas from the boomers and seniors who attend our expos and are connoisseurs,” founder and CEO of the Bluewater Creative Group expo, marketing and publishing firm Jill Blue-Gaines said. “But they also share their concerns, what they need in their lives. They are seeking solutions to making their lives even better as they have more time to enjoy themselves and more resources, and sometimes less resources.”

The TechKnow Café, a mini form of Bluewater's TechKnow Expo, is where novices to know-most-alls can hone their skills on smartphones, tablets, laptops and all manner of connectivity to fellow mankind.

One of the many presenters at the café is The TECH Project, a nonprofit that goes beyond providing group and one-on-one instruction to connect seniors, at-risk populations, whose with special needs and challenges and veterans. Sometimes it means just being there to combat social isolation.

“We specialize in creating opportunities for people in need using technology and education as a tool to identify opportunities, build confidence, stay connected and inspire hope for a brighter future,” said Dr. Jamie Rost, co-founder of The TECH Project with wife Amanda Rost, COO.

The expo grand prize is high-tech security equipment and service from Modern Security Systems for a year valued at $1,700. It allows an individual to stay connected via a touch screen with two-way cellular access, obtain weather information, report wellness checks and create a platform that can bring the world into the home for independent living.

Other Boomer Bash activities include a Veterans Muster, health fair and health screenings, a number of inter-activity areas, exhibits, line dancing, presentation by award-winning travel writer John Trieste, a variety of entertainment and more.

The expo is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18 at 6729 Colonnade Avenue. For more information, go to BoomerSeniorExpo.com or call 321-242-1235. Save the date for the 2017 Boomer Guide Expo coming Friday, Feb. 17 at Larsen Motorsports in Palm Bay where you'll feed your need for speed.