eyewear and optical · Providence
N.E.O.S. 2027Providence exhibitor guide: booth costs, dates and deadlines
80 indie frame lines, one open bar: NEOS 2027 booth kits in Providence
- Event dates
- April 17–18, 2027
- Exhibit hall
- Not confirmed yet
- Venue
- WaterFire Arts Center, Providence
4.9 client rating10,000+ booths built3,000+ exhibitors servedSince 2015
Quick answers
N.E.O.S. 2027 in 30 seconds
The short version for N.E.O.S. exhibitors. Every figure here has its source further down the N.E.O.S. page.
- When is N.E.O.S. 2027?
- April 17–18, 2027, at WaterFire Arts Center, Providence.
- When is the N.E.O.S. exhibit hall open?
- Not confirmed yet for 2027.
- How much is a 10×20 booth at N.E.O.S., all-in?
- $7,500 – $15,000 for a Purple rental in Providence: design, graphics, lighting, install and dismantle. Space and show services are billed by the show.
- At N.E.O.S., what is the next exhibitor deadline?
- NEOS Happy Hour pop-up, Resurgence Brewing Co., Buffalo: December 2, 2026.
Official N.E.O.S. 2027 links: N.E.O.S. 2027 exhibitor listN.E.O.S. 2027 hotels
The lookProvidence 2027
Independent frames. Face to face.
N.E.O.S. #10 fills the WaterFire Arts Center in Providence, April 17–18, 2027, with 80+ independent collections per show. Shop owners come on their day off to handle frames the big distributors do not push.
Everything about N.E.O.S. 2027 in one place
N.E.O.S. 2027 fact sheet
| Official name | North East Optical Show (N.E.O.S.) 2027: Spring Providence and Fall Nashville |
|---|---|
| Event dates | April 17–18, 2027 |
| Exhibit hall dates | Not confirmed yet |
| Venue | WaterFire Arts Center 475 Valley St, Providence, RI 02908 |
| Organizer | North East Optical Show, Inc. |
| Who attends | Optical shop owners, opticians and optometrists; not open to the public, but families are welcome |
| Next deadline | NEOS Happy Hour pop-up, Resurgence Brewing Co., Buffalo: December 2, 2026 source |
| Nearest airport | T.F. Green International Airport (PVD); Boston Logan (BOS) and Worcester (ORH) also listed by NEOS |
| Hotels | NEOS negotiates show hotel rates and posts them on each event page Official hotel page → |
| Official website | northeastopticalshow.com |
Official N.E.O.S. resources
N.E.O.S. 2027 calendar
N.E.O.S. 2027 dates and deadlines
Every date the organizer has published for N.E.O.S., in order, with a link to the page that states it. We highlight the next one.
- NEOS Happy Hour pop-up, Resurgence Brewing Co., BuffaloVendors and optical shops source
- NEOS Happy Hour pop-up, Wolf's Ridge Brewing, ColumbusVendors and optical shops source
- NEOS Happy Hour pop-up, Southern Tier PittsburghVendors and optical shops source
- NEOS Spring 2027 (#10) opens, WaterFire Arts Center, ProvidenceAll source
- NEOS Spring 2027, second dayAll source
- NEOS Fall 2027 (#11) opens, Musicians Hall of Fame, NashvilleAll source
- NEOS Fall 2027, second dayAll source
01 Purple at N.E.O.S. 2027
80 indie frame lines, one open bar: NEOS 2027 booth kits in Providence
NEOS is a weekend show where independent optical reps and frame houses meet shop owners face to face, so displays are compact, quick to set and built around the frames. We make the cases, trays and lit counters, for Providence's WaterFire Arts Center in April and Nashville in September.
- Apr 17–18 · Providence
- Sep 25–26 · Nashville
- 80+ indie collections
What makes N.E.O.S. different, and how we build for it
NEOS began in Providence in April 2022, when independent optical sales reps carrying more than 50 collections joined forces to show shops and doctors how to stay independent.It now features over 80 frame collections plus independent labs, lens and technology companies, and travels: Worcester, Boston, Brighton and Washington, D.C. have all hosted it. The 2027 Spring show returns to Providence at the WaterFire Arts Center on April 17 and 18, and the Fall show heads to the Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville on September 25 and 26. Entry is free, the bar is open all day, and NEOS keeps it small enough that buyers can see every collection on the weekend.
They come on their day off to find frames the big distributors do not push, meet the reps in person and write orders without a sales visit.
Fit, materials and lab options matter: they want to handle the frames, ask about edging and lens choices, and take a class when NEOS offers one.
NEOS welcomes families, sometimes with lawn games, so a calm, uncluttered table with lockable sample storage keeps frames safe in a relaxed room.
Your team in Providence
From our two shops to the N.E.O.S. floor
We fabricate in our own Fishkill, NY shop and our Las Vegas hub, then ship to the WaterFire Arts Center, where our own project manager leads the install with vetted local labor. Every N.E.O.S. build runs a predictable 30 to 45 days and gets a pre-show QA, with secure storage after.
The booth is lit and stocked when your team reaches the WaterFire Arts Center. You just show up.
New at N.E.O.S. 2027
- Spring returns to Providence
After its 2025 and 2026 spring shows in Worcester, NEOS #10 moves to the WaterFire Arts Center in Providence, where NEOS began, on April 17–18, 2027. Exhibitors get free on-site parking and an Amtrak station 1.5 miles away. source
- Fall moves to Nashville
The Fall 2027 show leaves Washington, D.C. for the Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville on September 25–26, opening NEOS to Southern optical shops. Northeast reps should plan to ship their display rather than drive. source
Inside N.E.O.S. 2027
Rules that shape your N.E.O.S. booth
NEOS is not open to the public but is open to anyone in the optical world, and their families may come. We keep displays low and stable, with frames locked away when not in a buyer's hands.
There is no charge for the show floor; classes or other events at a show may carry a fee, and classes usually run in spring. We plan your staffing around class times so the table stays covered.
Vendors join NEOS through the vendor portal at neosvendors.com, and the 2027 vendor lists will be announced on each show page. We start design once your space is confirmed in the portal.
Programs worth planning for
After-work pop-up shows in breweries and wineries, new in 2026: Buffalo on December 2, 2026, Columbus on January 20, 2027 and Pittsburgh on February 17, 2027.
NEOS offers classes at some shows, typically in spring; we plan your staffing around the class schedule once NEOS posts it.
NEOS is the traveling weekend show for independent frame collections and the shops that buy them; choose it over LOFT New York when you want Northeast and Southern shop owners in a relaxed, free-to-attend room twice a year. Compare all the eyewear and optical shows we build for →
Who exhibits at N.E.O.S. 2026
Past NEOS vendors listed by the North East Optical Show. See the full list
- Lindberg
- Mykita
- Etnia Barcelona
- Garrett Leight
- Masunaga
- Kirk & Kirk
- Morgenthal Frederics
- Orgreen
- Lafont
- Henry Jullien
- Caroline Abram
- Coco Song
- Coburn Technologies
- Hilco
- OptiPak
- Cherry Optical Lab
- Neurolens
- Maui Jim
eyewear and optical at N.E.O.S.
The industry behind N.E.O.S., in pictures
02 Booths & pricing for N.E.O.S. 2027
Popular booth sizes at N.E.O.S.
NEOS does not publish booth sizes or prices on its site; vendors register through the NEOS vendor portal, and the show promises easy setup and breakdown. Exhibitors here bring compact displays, not booth structures. We build frame trays, lit counters, rolling cases and small brand panels that fit the space NEOS assigns.
Product demos, two-person teams
Shown: MedaCure, a Purple inline booth
See 10×20 rental booths →
Multiple product lines, a small meeting nook
Above: Tipmed, a Purple inline booth
See 10×30 rental booths →
Hanging sign, open floor plan, lounge
Pictured: TileBar, a Purple island exhibit
See 20×20 rental booths →
Demo stations plus private meetings
Pictured: Olon / Fidia Pharma Group, a Purple large-format exhibit
See 20×30 rental booths →In Purple's N.E.O.S. price
- A 3D rendering of your N.E.O.S. booth, revised until you approve it
- Structure, graphics printed for N.E.O.S., counters and storage as specified
- Lighting and power distribution inside your N.E.O.S. booth
- Install and dismantle at N.E.O.S., led by our project manager on the floor
- Every N.E.O.S. show-service order and deadline tracked for you
Billed by N.E.O.S. and its contractor
- Your N.E.O.S. booth space, paid to the organizer
- Drayage, or material handling, when it is not in the N.E.O.S. space rate
- Electrical, internet and rigging orders for N.E.O.S.
- Booth cleaning and any union labor the WaterFire Arts Center requires
Your proposal estimates all of these, so the total for N.E.O.S. is on paper before you sign anything.
These are all-in 2026 rental ranges (design, structure, graphics, installation and dismantle). A custom build is quoted per project. Want an exact number for Providence? Use the booth cost calculator or the 2026 booth cost guide.
Send your N.E.O.S. booth size and what the space needs to do for your team. Expect a reply within one business day and, usually within a week, a rendering and a fixed proposal for N.E.O.S.. No charge.
03 Built by Purple
Our booths, designed, built and installed, to compare for N.E.O.S.
Case study · French Avenue
French Avenue at a fragrance and beauty trade show
A premium fragrance environment built around discovery, with a flow designed for real conversations and product sampling.
French Avenue's environment was designed so visitors could discover products and talk; a NEOS table does the same for a rep's frame collections with shop owners on their day off.
Read the French Avenue case study All case studies →“If you’re looking for a trade show booth expert who shows up and gets the job done right, Purple Exhibits is the real deal.”
Magdalena Kulisz, Service Manager, Miss Immigrant USA · more client reviews
Trusted by exhibitors including
04 Designing for independent frame collections, optical labs, lens and practice-technology companies at N.E.O.S.
Four things we get right for N.E.O.S. exhibitors
1Several collections, one table
Many NEOS exhibitors are independent reps carrying several lines. We build trays that group frames by collection with a small label on each tray, so a shop owner sees where one brand ends and the next begins without asking.
2Setup in minutes, not hours
NEOS sells itself to vendors on easy setup and breakdown over a two-day weekend. Our kits unfold from rolling cases, light from one plug and lock up overnight, so a rep can drive in on Saturday morning and be ready before the first shop owner arrives.
3Two very different rooms
Spring is at the WaterFire Arts Center in Providence and Fall at the Musicians Hall of Fame, a Nashville museum, two rooms with nothing in common. We plan lighting that does not depend on the room, so frames look the same in April and in September.
4Sundays are for owners
NEOS points out that Sunday may be a shop owner's only day off, and it brings families along. We keep the display low and tidy, with samples locked away when not in hand, and a clear order form for buyers who decide on the spot.
Concept rendering
Your N.E.O.S. proposal comes with a rendering like this
You see your N.E.O.S. booth in 3D before we cut a single panel: layout, graphics, lighting and product positions, revised until it is right. Pictured: a Purple concept for Acknit Industries Limited.
Start my N.E.O.S. conceptFloor at a glance
Where you could be at N.E.O.S. 2027
NEOS uses event venues rather than exhibit halls, and each 2027 show is in a different city and building.
WaterFire Arts Center, Providence (Spring)
475 Valley Street, Providence, for NEOS #10 on April 17–18, 2027; ample free on-site parking, 1.5 miles from the Amtrak station, per NEOS.
Our advice Most exhibitors drive in, so we size the kit to a car and plan a short unload from the lot.
Musicians Hall of Fame, Nashville (Fall)
401 Gay Street, Nashville, for NEOS #11 on September 25–26, 2027.
Our advice A longer trip for Northeast reps; we ship the kit ahead so it waits for you at the venue.
05 WaterFire Arts Center · Providence
Logistics for N.E.O.S. 2027, handled
NEOS runs in event venues rather than convention centers, with no general contractor or drayage. In Providence the WaterFire Arts Center has ample free on-site parking and sits 1.5 miles from the Amtrak station, per NEOS, so most exhibitors drive in with their display. The Fall show moves to the Musicians Hall of Fame on Gay Street in downtown Nashville. We build kits that fit in a car, ship them to the venue when you fly in, and send our project manager to help on Saturday morning when a lab or lens company brings a larger counter.
What Purple handles
- Frame trays grouped by collection
- Lit counters for labs and lens companies
- Rolling cases sized for a car trunk
- Brand panels for multi-line reps
- Shipping to Providence and Nashville
- Storage and refresh between Spring and Fall
N.E.O.S. timeline, counted back from move-in
We need your N.E.O.S. design signed off by January 2027.
- January 2027Design sign-off for the Spring display: number of collections, trays, counter and lighting.
- February–March 2027Production in our shop; trays fitted to your frames and the kit test-packed in its cases.
- April 17–18, 2027NEOS Spring at the WaterFire Arts Center in Providence; our project manager available for setup.
- Summer 2027Kit stored and refreshed with new collections and graphics for the Fall show.
- September 25–26, 2027NEOS Fall at the Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville; the kit ships to Nashville and back to storage.
Purple's planning timeline for N.E.O.S.. Official move-in, freight target and order deadlines come from your exhibitor kit and assigned schedule; we confirm them against your booth when you book.
Print the N.E.O.S. budget & deadline sheetTravel to N.E.O.S. 2027
Getting to N.E.O.S. 2027: airport, hotels and parking
Fly in
T.F. Green International Airport (PVD); Boston Logan (BOS) and Worcester (ORH) also listed by NEOS
Park
Ample free on-site parking at the WaterFire Arts Center, per NEOS
Travel facts from northeastopticalshow.com.
N.E.O.S. by the numbers
N.E.O.S. year by year
How N.E.O.S. 2027 compares with other eyewear and optical shows
The eyewear and optical shows closest to N.E.O.S. on the calendar, with the latest size each organizer has published. Each name other than N.E.O.S. opens our exhibitor guide for that show.
| Show | Dates | City | Latest published size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heart of America Eye Care CongressHeart of America Eye Care Congress (HOAECC) | February 19–21, 2027 | Kansas City, MO | – |
| SECOSECO International | March 3–7, 2027 | Atlanta, GA | – |
| LOFT New YorkLoft Eyewear Events Corp. | March 4–6, 2027 | New York, NY | – |
| EYECONEYECON Show (founder and creative director Tarrence Lackran) | March 5–7, 2027 | New York, NY | – |
| Vision ExpoRX and The Vision Council (co-owners) | March 10–13, 2027 | Las Vegas, NV | 8,000+ attendees · 350+ exhibitors (2026) |
| N.E.O.S.North East Optical Show | April 17–18, 2027 | Providence, RI | – |
N.E.O.S. exhibitor questions
Questions exhibitors ask us before N.E.O.S.
When is the North East Optical Show 2027?
NEOS has two 2027 shows: Spring (NEOS #10) on Saturday and Sunday, April 17–18, 2027 in Providence, and Fall (NEOS #11) on Saturday and Sunday, September 25–26, 2027 in Nashville. Daily show hours are not confirmed yet.
Where is NEOS Spring 2027 held?
NEOS Spring 2027 is at the WaterFire Arts Center, 475 Valley Street, Providence, RI 02908. NEOS says there is ample free on-site parking and that the venue is 1.5 miles from the Amtrak station; it lists T.F. Green (PVD), Worcester (ORH) and Boston Logan (BOS) as airports.
Where is NEOS Fall 2027?
The Fall 2027 show is at the Musicians Hall of Fame, 401 Gay Street, Nashville, TN 37219, on September 25–26, 2027. It follows the Fall 2026 show, held in Washington, D.C. on October 18, 2026.
Who exhibits at NEOS?
NEOS features over 80 independent frame collections, plus independent labs, lens, technology and business-service companies. Its past vendors include Lindberg, Mykita, Etnia Barcelona, Garrett Leight, Masunaga, Coburn Technologies, Hilco and OptiPak; the lineup varies from show to show.
Is NEOS free to attend?
The show floor is free. If NEOS runs classes or other events at a show there may be a charge for those, and classes are usually offered at the spring show. Light snacks and an open bar are provided throughout the day.
Is NEOS open to the public?
NEOS is not open to the public; it is open to anyone in the optical world, and their families are welcome. The show often runs on a Sunday because that may be a shop owner's only day off.
How do we exhibit at NEOS?
Vendors register through the NEOS vendor portal at neosvendors.com, linked from the show site. NEOS does not publish booth sizes or prices; it describes vendor benefits as direct access to decision makers, easy setup and breakdown, and a cost-effective show.
Who started NEOS?
NEOS started in 2022 in Providence, when a group of independent optical sales reps with more than 50 collections came together to promote each other and help optical shops and doctors stay independent. The first show was April 23, 2022.
What are NEOS happy hours?
Since 2026 NEOS has added smaller pop-up shows in breweries and wineries in an after-work format. Upcoming dates are Buffalo on December 2, 2026 (Resurgence Brewing Co.), Columbus on January 20, 2027 (Wolf's Ridge Brewing) and Pittsburgh on February 17, 2027 (Southern Tier Pittsburgh).
Can we bring a trade show booth to NEOS?
NEOS is a compact show in event venues where vendors set up quickly, so we do not pitch a booth structure. We build frame trays, lit counters, brand panels and rolling cases that suit the space NEOS gives you and travel to both 2027 shows.
Where has NEOS been held before?
NEOS has run in Providence (2022), Worcester (2023, 2025, 2026), Brighton and Boston (2023 and 2024) and Washington, D.C. (2024, 2025 and 2026). The April 2026 show in Worcester was NEOS #8 and the October 2026 show in Washington was NEOS #9.
Can Purple store our NEOS display between shows?
We store the kit after Providence, refresh trays and graphics for new collections over the summer, and ship it to the Musicians Hall of Fame for the Fall show. The same kit can also go to LOFT or EYECON in New York.
Is NEOS a good show for an independent frame brand?
NEOS is built for independent frame collections and the shops that buy them, with direct access to decision makers and no attendance fee for buyers. For larger launches, brands add Vision Expo in March; NEOS works as the regional follow-up with Northeast and Southern shops.
Before you sign for N.E.O.S.
Five questions to ask any exhibit builder for N.E.O.S.:
- Is every fee on the proposal, including what the N.E.O.S. show contractor bills?
- Who builds the N.E.O.S. booth: your own shop or a subcontractor?
- Who from your team is on the N.E.O.S. floor for install and dismantle?
- For N.E.O.S., what is in the rental and what is billed by the show?
- What happens to the booth after N.E.O.S., and what does storage cost?
Common situations
Already own a booth? We refresh its graphics, repair what is worn, ship and install it for N.E.O.S., and store it between shows. You keep the structure you paid for and bring it to N.E.O.S..
Exhibiting from outside the US? We handle the ground work for N.E.O.S.: freight to the advance warehouse, show-service orders, installation and storage, with one project manager replying to your emails in your time zone.
Short on time? With a rental, your graphics can be ready in two to three weeks. On the first call, we tell you what is realistic for N.E.O.S..
Get a proposal
Tell us about your N.E.O.S. booth
What happens next
- You get a reply within one business day, asking about your products, goals and footprint at N.E.O.S..
- You get a concept rendering and a fixed proposal for N.E.O.S., usually within a week. All fees listed upfront, in full, on paper, before N.E.O.S..
- In 30–45 days we build it, ship it to the advance warehouse and install it before the hall opens.