On Thursday, May 17, military spouses will converge on the McGavick Conference Center in Lakewood to take part in MilSpouseFest (MSF) 2018. Presented by USAA, the program was founded by military spouses to provide a way to meet new friends, network, learn and have fun.

The day is designed to be fun, with activities and discussions about military spouse life. The group promises no boring PowerPoint briefings. Thanks to generous sponsors, there will be some awesome prizes and giveaways like gift cards, smartwatches and more.

"MSF was started to connect military spouses with one another, give them a place to network, learn and most of all have fun!" said Danya Devine, director of military events for event host Military OneClick. "Spouses leave MSF pleasantly surprised and happy. Most have never heard of MSF and aren't sure what to expect. There is at least one awesome story that comes out of every event. One of my favorites is the young lady that struck up a conversation in the bathroom with another spouse at MSF D.C.  By the time she finished washing her hands, she had a new job with tutor.com and a new friend."

The keynote speaker for the event will be Judy Davis, The Direction Diva. Davis is an Army spouse, motivational speaker, podcast host, author, and expert on parenting teens and upstream solutions for teen suicide prevention. The day will be packed with activities, and the schedule works out for busy parents with children. The event starts at 9 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m., allowing you to get kids off to school in the morning and be home when they get out in the afternoon.

"There will be over 15 local and national resources for the attendees to talk to," Devine explained. "(Attendees) can get help building their resumés and finding a job (and) get awesome freebies from USAA, and we give away raffle prizes worth thousands of dollars."

MSF 2018 is hosted by Military OneClick, "a multimedia marketing company for millions of military and veteran families around the world," Devine said. "MSF brings the online community to life with in-person events."

This online community offers a wealth of information for military spouses. The site (militaryoneclick.com) is jam-packed with multimedia content that helps connect spouses to news and information that relates to them. Career in a slump? Check out the articles tailored to your situation. Also keep updated on money, education, PCS moves, health and family. There are plenty of valuable resources for military life. I particularly like the Blogger Brigade. It's designed for members of the media seeking experts about military life, but it's also a great way to find someone similar to follow. The bloggers offer unique takes on military life and what works for them.

A few things to know for the upcoming MSF event: Register online for your free ticket at milspousefest.com. Though babies in arms are welcome, the venue is not appropriate for small children. There is no child care available.

MilSpouseFest 2018, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thursday, May 17, McGavick Conference Center, 4500 Steilacoom Blvd., Lakewood, free, milspousefest.com