Prepare To Bloom, Lighthouse Guidance, and Weatherhead Strategic Planning announce that registration is officially open for the Fall 2025 Alternative to College Fair (ALT Fair), returning to the West Coast Lafayette Library & Community Hall on September 12–13, 2025. Now in its eleventh year, the bi-coastal event showcases gap-year programs, vocational pathways, transition services, and other post-secondary alternatives for teens and young adults.
“College isn’t the only road to a purposeful life,” said Shayna Abraham, Founder of the ALT Fair and CEO of Prepare To Bloom. “Our fair brings together programs that champion experiential learning, independence, and personal growth—options that families rarely encounter at traditional college fairs.”
Event at a Glance:
Fri, Sept 12
Referring professionals & programs
8 AM – 4 PM
Structured networking day with up to 20 one‑on‑one meetings per program
Sat, Sept 13
Parents, students & community
1PM – 4 PM
Public exposition featuring 40+ organizations
Vendor Opportunities
A handful of two‑day vendor packages remain.
Programs unable to attend both days are encouraged to register for a Saturday‑only booth while space lasts.
“We curate a balanced mix of therapeutic, gap‑year experiences, trade apprenticeships, supportive living programs, and travel‑based learning,” added Adrienne Frumberg, founder of Lighthouse Guidance. “The West Coast fair is an unmatched chance for mission‑driven organizations to meet the right students and referral partners in one weekend.”
How to Register
Vendors, sponsors, and attendees can secure their spots at PrepareToBloom.com/alt‑fair. Early registration is encouraged; tables are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
“Families leave the ALT Fair knowing there are many ways to launch into adulthood,” noted Carrie Weatherhead of Weatherhead Strategic Planning. “We’re thrilled to welcome new partners who share that vision.”
About the Organizers:
Prepare To Bloom is a Walnut Creek–based therapeutic consulting firm that guides families nationwide through educational and mental‑health transitions.
Lighthouse Guidance offers individualized academic and gap-year counseling with a focus on social-emotional wellness.
Weatherhead Strategic Planning supports schools and programs in designing forward‑thinking curricula and strategic growth initiatives.
Together, the trio has been putting on these events coast to coast for the last two years.