Who's coming to town? Highlights of the year's Indiana meetings and conventions.

• Author: Tricker, Jennifer
• Position: Meetings & Conventions

FROM COWBOYS, GAMERS and clockmakers to fans of Mary Kay and R2-D2, thousands will attend a variety of large and unusual gatherings across Indiana this year.

Century Center Convention Complex South Bend

The Century Center offers striking architecture and more than 75,000 square feet of space in an 11-acre riverfront park. The three-story Grand Hall window wall overlooks the whitewater rapids of the East Race. The Center features skylight-covered walkways and houses the South Bend Regional Arts Museum and the Bendix Theatre.

From March 16-20 this year, the parking lot at South Bend's Century Center will be seeing pink as 2,000 Mary Kay consultants convene for their Annual Career Conference over the St. Patrick's Day holiday.

Some 800 school delegates will mind their p's and q's after coming in off the tee's for the Indiana Association of School Business Officials 59th annual convention. The group will convene from May 10-13 following the IASBO's annual golf outing at Blackthorn Golf Club in South Bend.

Is there a lawyer in the house? There will be plenty sharing advice with about 250 professionals at the Century Center from June 2-4 for the Indiana State Bar Association's Solo and Small Business Conference.

This fall, nearly 2,700 are expected to arrive at the Century Center for the Association of Christian Schools International Mid America Regional Convention from October 4-6.

Grand Wayne Convention Center Fort Wayne

Following a $27 million dollar expansion and renovation, the Grand Wayne is scheduled for a truly grand reopening in May. Previously offering 40,000 square feet of dedicated meeting space, the post-expansion number will jump to nearly 100,000 square feet of combined meeting and public space this spring.

Between September 6-11, 800 people--including competitors, families and enthusiasts--will flock to the Grand Wayne for the International Powerlifters World Junior Powerlifting Championships. Winners, chosen from national competitions around the globe, compete in the sub-junior (age 14-19) and junior (age 20-23) categories for the international title.

As many as 500 adorned in the latest boots, chaps, hats and considerable belt buckles will spend three days from September 10-12 promoting and selling upcoming lines of clothing, hats, art, leather goods and other products related to the world of Western culture. The Midwest Western Wear & Equipment Association has chosen the newly expanded Grand Wayne to help grow its biannual market. The MWWEA is an organization of more than 150 wholesale and retail distributors of Western products with membership throughout the greater Midwest and across the United States. The event is expected to generate an economic impact of more than $225,000 for Fort Wayne.

The Indiana Association of Cities and Towns annual convention will be held from September 26-28 this year. Workshops, exhibits and even a run/walk are scheduled for the 1,200 people expected to attend.

The fascination of the art and science of timekeeping will bring 500 people together October 14-15 for the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors Midwest Convention. Members include hobbyists, students, educators...