Reef-A-Palooza This Weekend!

I just loaded my camera and will be taking a road-trip down to southern California today for Reef-A-Palooza this weekend! 8) Anyone out in this neck of the woods should drop everything and check this out!



About Reef-A-Palooza

Reef-A-Palooza (RAP) is an annual event promoted by the Southern California Marine Aquarium Society (SCMAS). Now in its sixth year, RAP can best be described as an indoor marketplace where sellers, exhibitors, and hobbyists of all types can buy, sell, trade, showcase their products to the marine hobbyist community. The main purpose of Reef-A-Palooza is to provide an enjoyable, positive atmosphere that is conducive to education and trade of both product and knowledge. As such, participating exhibitors range from large manufacturers, to retailers, to small livestock sellers, and participating hobbyists range from the beginner to the elite, rare-species coral farmer. It is the perfect venue to showcase new products in the marine aquarium industry. We strive to rally a diverse range of participants into the two-day event so as to present the best value and interest to everyone involved. Considering our current bookings and the popularity of previous years, we expect 70+ exhibitors/exhibitors and well over 2,000 attendees this year!

Reef-A-Palooza provides the perfect venue for marine aquarium hobbyists to meet fellow enthusiasts, exchange information, and trade, and learn about new products. One of our main goals at Reef-A-Palooza, and within SCMAS, is to educate and enlighten the public with the latest knowledge in marine animal husbandry skills and environmental responsibility. For instance, SCMAS fully encourages the rapid advancement and allure of coral propagation as a viable alternative to wild harvest collection practices. As such, many of our booth exhibitors are local hobbyists who grow their own corals specifically to sell and trade at Reef-A-Palooza and similar events. SCMAS thoroughly encourages this type of “green commerce” for both the betterment and future of our hobby, as well as the resulting benefit to the marine environment.

Southern California is one of the most prolific areas in the world for the marine hobby in terms of retail, supply, and demographics. The density of marine aquarium hobbyists living within the greater LA, San Diego and Orange County area is simply phenomenal! As such, we fully leverage this advantage by properly directing resources to proactively promote Reef-A-Palooza far in advance of the actual event. Significant effort is made to advertise the event effectively, such as posting abundant signs, distributing postcards, and providing other similar displays to various retail locations. Booth rates are extremely reasonable and affordable.

Reef-A-Palooza is focused mainly to cater to the exhibitor and hobbyist, rather than as an educational conference. As such, we tend to attract customers who come specifically for the purpose of viewing and seeing all the different exhibitor’s booths and displays. Nonetheless, speakers, opportunity drawings, and other entertainment are provided to help keep people around for most of the day, even after seeing all the booths. In addition, our promotional and marketing efforts are nearly guaranteed to attract high participation and attendance rates, and hence, heavy foot-traffic throughout the building. RAP 2009 is going to be HUGE this year due to the popularity of its new venue (Orange County Fair & Exposition Center, Building #12) as well as the number of sellers, exhibitors, and manufacturers involved. We now have 20,000 square feet of indoor, climate-controlled space in which to make this event a resounding success. Now into its sixth year, Reef-A-Palooza has quickly gained the reputation as an event that is NOT to be missed!

SCMAS Reef-A-Palooza

 

ahhggg...why aren't there any reef expos on the east coast!? why is it always the west coast!!!

 

Well you just missed MACNA in Atlantic City. I flew all the way out there for that from Cali. What's your excuse?

 

Im right in So cal about an hour from mesa I was thinking about checking this out. Do they really have good prices on frags at these shows? Or is it still usuall market price?

 

There will be some great deals on frags. Especially on the last day when they just want to get rid of them. I've been to a lot of these type of shows this year and I am amazed at what you can get for $20.

 

me and my friend are going for sure!

 

we live 10mins away from the fair ground:

 

Already been out in Vegas for a week now - almost booked my flight to LA instead of going back to Tennessee tomorrow, but I'm wiped and heading home. Need to sleep the rest of the weekend, I believe. haha

Have fun Matt! Look forward to pics.

 

damn I wish I could make it out there this weekend but I haft to work. Probably for the best. I will never save up the money for my new build if I keep going out and blowing it on frags. lol I plan on haveing my 200g up and running by christmas so I need to keep saveing my money for much needed equipment. i need to save up $1500 before the next bulk reef group buy

 

Ermano honey I feel your pain. Im all the way up in Mi where its cold and surrounded by the polluted muck also known as the Great lakes.
No fun reef conventions for me either. We can be sad north-easterners together.