Kick off your countdown to holidays at the 20th Holiday Expo, which will be held Nov. 16 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Assyrian-American Civic Club, 2618 N. Golden State Blvd. 

This year, event organizer Gaylene Cornell is offering free admission to anyone who brings a non-perishable food item — boxed or canned — or a new blanket or jacket to be donated to Westside Ministries.

Standard admission is $3, which includes free parking and free seminars.

“We were just talking and I said, ‘You know, with SNAP benefits dropped or cut, depending on the day, people need food,’” said Cornell, minister of The Spiritual Center of Turlock for the past 18 years. “All the food donations and new coats or blankets will go to Westside Ministries.”

The event, which will host approximately 60 vendors, serves as the primary fundraiser for The Spiritual Center of Turlock.

From noon to 4, kids can take free photographs with Santa Claus on his sleigh.

And seminars will be held starting at 11:30 a.m.

Betsy Champ will offer a three-card Tarot reading (as many as possible during her 30-minute session), Gibb Botello will speak from noon to 1 on clearing unwanted negative energy from your system, and Cornell will give free intuitive readings from 1 to 2.

At 3 p.m. a raffle will be held for a number of different prizes — you must be present to win these — and an hour later a raffle for a 16-pound smoky quartz crystal, valued at around $1,400, will be held. Tickets for the crystal are $5 and guests do not need to present to win this prize.

Also, 100 mystery gift bags will be handed out to the first 100 guests that enter the expo.

“We’re an all-inclusive church, so we don’t use the word Christmas,” said Cornell. “That’s why it's called the Holiday Expo. But there will be all kinds of Christmas stuff to enjoy — including at my own booth.”