Photos and video: Grandma's expo excitement at the DECC - Duluth News Tribune

DULUTH — As the seconds trickled down to 4 p.m. on Thursday, hundreds of guests prepared to make their entrance into the Essentia Health Fitness Expo at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center.

When the doors officially opened, they were greeted by the ringing of the free cowbells from Members Cooperative Credit Union that they could take with them as everyone gets ready to ring in the 50th Grandma’s Marathon weekend.

A woman holding two cowbells and ringing them while volunteering at an indoor event. — C.J. Carter, director of marketing for Members Cooperative Credit Union, rings cowbells while volunteering and greeting guests during the Essentia Health Fitness Expo at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center on Thursday.

The two-day expo fills Pioneer Hall and the DECC Arena and features all things racing, with more than 100 vendors and exhibitors, as well as guest speakers, food and more. The expo is also where participants pick up their race packets. With Friday’s William A. Irvin 5K being the first of the three races, early attendees on Thursday packed that part of the venue.

The expo, one of the largest in the nation according to the

Grandma’s Marathon website,

continues on Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. It is free to attend and open to the public.

Numerous people inside of a venue for an expo. — Guests check out the options during the Essentia Health Fitness Expo at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center on Thursday.

The 33rd William A. Irvin 5K is scheduled for Friday at 1 p.m. The 36th Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon kicks off Saturday’s races, with a 6 a.m. start. The 26.2 mile Two Harbors to Duluth Grandma’s Marathon begins at approximately 7:40 a.m.

2026 marks a milestone year for Grandma’s Marathon, as it’ll be the 50th running of the race. The inaugural Grandma’s Marathon was held on June 25, 1977.

People waiting in line outside of an arena. — Guests wait at an entrance at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center for the Essentia Health Fitness Expo to officially open on Thursday.

Two men chatting while waiting indoors for an event to begin. — Lee Kenyon, of Duluth, center, chats with Anthony Hessler, of Troy, Michigan, while waiting for the Essentia Health Fitness Expo to open at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center on Thursday. Both are signed up to race in Grandma’s Marathon.

People waiting indoors for an event to open up. — Guests wait near Pioneer Hall at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center for the Essentia Health Fitness Expo to open on Thursday.

People entering a venue. — The first guests enter Pioneer Hall at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center.

A man laughing while chatting with another man. — Grandma’s Marathon co-founder and former executive director Scott Keenan, center, shares a laugh during the Essentia Health Fitness Expo at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center on Thursday. Keenen had a booth for his book titled “My Journey to Grandma’s Marathon: History & Heroes.”

A man holding up a t-shirt while walking at an indoor expo for a running event. — Roger Laaksonen, of Duluth, center, checks out the T-shirt for the William A. Irvin 5K while picking up race packets on Thursday. Laaksonen will race in the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon while his daughter will race in the Irvin 5K.

People waiting for race packets at an indoor expo. — People line up to pick up their race packets on Thursday.

A man handing a race packet to a young woman. — Brent Gould, of Duluth, hands a race packet to a participant while volunteering.

People walking about a lightboard used for a photo background. — Guests walk by a lighted board for a photo background during the Essentia Health Fitness Expo at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center.

People entering a venue and walking over a floor sign. — Guests enter Pioneer Hall at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center as the Essentia Health Fitness Expo opened on Thursday.

Dan Williamson joined the Duluth News Tribune in June 2021 where he’s involved in digital content such as video, photos and podcasts as well as covering breaking news. Previously, he worked in television broadcasting as a Sports Director/Anchor at WDIO-TV in Duluth, Sports Director/Anchor in Bismarck, N.D., News and Sports Anchor at KSAX-TV in Alexandria, and Reporter/Photographer/Editor with the syndicated show “Life to the Max” in Eden Prairie. He was also the Development Director for the Duluth Salvation Army. Williamson grew up in Alexandria, graduated from St. Cloud State University and has lived in Duluth since 2012.

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