The second annual Explore Sundre Adventure and Home Expo is a fun opportunity for the whole family to find out about local and regional businesses they might never have even heard of.
Mike Beukeboom, the Sundre and District Chamber of Commerce's president, told the Round Up during a phone interview last week that the event follows the parameters of a trade show that features plenty of vendors.
"This is an opportunity for those businesses to come and show their stuff."
Following last year's inaugural event, Beukeboom said he received plenty of positive feedback from the public, with some people who have lived in the area for years even expressing surprise that they had not known about some of the companies that set up booths.
"There's so much going on in this area that even locals don't know about it all."
The expo and trade show takes place Friday and Saturday, May 12-13 at the Sundre Arena as well as the Sundre Community Centre, a slight change from last year's three-day event held at the arena and the curling rink. The event remains free to attend for anyone who wants to check it out, although donations for the Mountain View Food Bank will be accepted, he said.
"It'll be awesome this year ó we're really excited," he said, adding the change in venue made the event logistically more feasible.
About 1,100 people came through last year for the inaugural event, which organizers were ecstatic to see, he said.
"The vendors were really happy with the event, and a lot of them are coming back," he said, adding several new businesses even plan to set up a booth this year.
"It was well worthwhile for the vendors."
Last year, there were about 60 businesses that set up booths, he said.
"We're at that now and still getting requests. If there's room, we'll get people in there."
Any entrepreneurs who might be interested in setting up a table can contact the chamber's office at 403-638-3245, visit its website www.sundrechamber.ca, or email [email protected], he said.
Although the chamber president could not divulge too many details, he said there would be door prizes as well as other incentives to entice people to consider heading downtown afterwards.
"There'll be lots of reasons to come to the expo and walk away and visit some downtown business as well."
Following feedback from the community last year requesting the possibility of doing a sort of farmers market concept, organizers decided to do just that this year at the community centre.
"That'll get more people than ever before to come through. Plus, what's happening at the arena will be awesome."
Beukeboom encourages anyone who wants to learn more about the businesses and services available in the region to drop by.
"Come to the expo; you're going to learn something new about local businesses!"
