NORTHERN GREEN 2024 Launching a New Chapter As Expo Moves to St. Paul

By CASSIE LARSON MNLA Executive Director

The challenges of the past few years have given everyone reason to pause, examine, and reassess. During the past several months, a collection of MNLA and MTGF board members and committee members have been meeting to discuss how to make our feature event, Northern Green, even more relevant to today’s green industry needs. After gathering feedback from members, exhibitors, and volunteers – we’re so excited to share that Northern Green will be transforming starting in January of 2024. Trade shows and events are evolving, and we are continuously striving to bring you the next best thing. The future is BRIGHT, and we’re excited for you to join us on this evolving adventure.

FIRST, YOU WILL NOTICE THAT WE ARE ON THE MOVE!

We heard loud and clear from members and exhibitors that there was a desire to move the show out of Minneapolis following the tragic events of recent years. While we have enjoyed nearly 20 years at the Minneapolis Convention Center, evolution and growth often demand change...and so we're pleased to launch a new chapter of the Northern Green story in St. Paul, and in addition, showcase a new and interactive Northern Green October event that will be held at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. We’ll be able to celebrate the season kick off and start to wrap up the year with a Northern Green experience on both ends! Northern Green becomes a year-round hub for all communities of the green industry, with the education, networking, and tools you need to grow your business and career.

Traditional Indoor Expo

The indoor portion of the Northern Green will still take place January 23-25, 2024 with events at RiverCentre, Roy Wilkins Auditorium, as well as a variety of other event and restaurant locations close by in St. Paul. Finding your colleagues and making connections is at the center of the event’s design. So, we invite you to join us in the all-new Northern Green Villages – each community within the larger event will have education, product and service show- cases, social events, and peer sharing designed specifically for the community’s needs. For example, are you a golf course superintendent who wants to connect with other superintendents? Are you a grounds manager who wants to meet with other grounds professionals? The goal is to provide an experience with tools and connections you can take back to your workplace to be even more effective.

Northern Green Outdoor Trade Show Fall 2024

The addition of an outdoor component to the Northern Green umbrella allows for more demonstrations, hands-on education / installations, and interactive experiences at the one-day event in late September or early October of 2024. Plus, suppliers will be able to feature outdoor equipment in its natural environment – test drive a mower, take a spin in that mini-excavator, or purchase a plow for the upcoming snow season. A variety of quick-hitting educational events will also be included.

Both event components, January and October, will feature curated social events to network and engage with your industry peers. This will be your opportunity to connect in a low-key, fun, and intentional way. Not everyone wants to interact in the same way, so we’ll have a variety of experiences to choose from.

Registration Options For 2024

Finally, we’ll be launching a new flexible subscription registration model - register for one event or both all at one time to make it as easy as possible. Plus, send different team members on the same ticket!

While the big picture pieces are in place, many details are still in the development process. Are you interested in participating? We’d love to hear your ideas or have you join a team or committee that will help with the planning process. Please reach out, and we’ll get you connected.

Regardless, we hope you’ll plan to join us for the next chapter of the Northern Green story in St. Paul in January and October 2024 – you won’t want to miss it!