After a successful second run for the Explore Sundre Adventure and Home Expo, an organizer is optimistic the event could become a staple in the community.
"That's always been our goal," said Mike Beukeboom, Sundre and District Chamber of Commerce president, adding that after several years, community events have the potential to become permanent traditions, taking along the way a life of their own.
The expo was held Friday and Saturday at the Sundre Arena as well as the Sundre Community Centre, which was a new venue this year.
"We had hoped this would improve the logistics of foot traffic and the flow of people coming and going, and it absolutely did that," said Beukeboom.
"We were really pleased."
Overall, the chamber president said he heard some excellent feedback from the vendors, who made some sales and also established new connections.
"For many of them ó if not all ó it was a very positive experience."
More room can always be made for another vendor or two, although the chamber reached its target of 40 spaces for the arena. Additional vendors could also have comfortably been accommodated at the community centre, but "some who weren't able to come this year asked to be booked next year."
Although organizers attempted to collect more data on visitor numbers and demographics this year, those figures had not yet been completely tallied when he spoke with the Round Up. Nevertheless, the initial impression was that attendance was up as much as 20 per cent over last year's inaugural event, with return vendors from last year having also observed an increase in foot traffic, he said.
Bronwyn Petersen, who recently moved back to Sundre, called the expo a beneficial event for local and regional businesses.
"There's lots of potential for it to grow," said Petersen.
She was also pleasantly surprised to learn about some new businesses located right here in Sundre that had not come across her radar.
Feedback from people like Petersen encourages Beukeboom.
"For us as a chamber, that just shows how much hidden talent there is," he said.
"I really hope that the people who came to the expo this year got to see some of that, and that they spread the word."
