BABY FAIRE EXPANDING INTO WASHINGTON

AMITY K. MOORE

WINCHESTER, Mass. -- Baby Faire here has announced its expansion into the Washington area. The first Greater Washington Baby Faire is scheduled for March 16 and 17 at the new Capital Expo Center, Chantilly, Va., about 20 minutes west of Washington.

A supermarket sponsor has yet to be decided on, although Kim Whittaker, president of Baby Faire, said she has been in discussions with the major chains in the area: Giant Food, Landover, Md.; Safeway, Oakland, Calif., and Shopper's Food Warehouse Corp., Lanham, Md. Both Gerber Products Co. and Baby Depot at Burlington Coat Factory have signed on as sponsors. Other sponsorship agreements are still being completed. Also awaiting final approval is the local charity that will receive a portion of the proceeds from the event. Whittaker explained that the television or corporate sponsor usually selects the beneficiary, and those sponsors remain unconfirmed. In addition to the expansion, Boston's Biggest Baby Faire will be back for its fourth year March 30 and 31 at the Bayside Expo Center, Boston. According to Whittaker, supermarket chains considering sponsorship for the Boston event include Star Market Co., Cambridge, Mass., and Shaw's, East Bridgewater, Mass. One retailer will act as the sponsor, while the other will set up an extensive display at the Faire.