Businesses and artists will take the spotlight at the Okotoks Chamber of Commerce’s 2018 annual trade and lifestyle show this weekend.
The show runs April 20 and 21 at the Okotoks Recreation Centre in the Murray and Piper Arenas.
More than 150 vendors from a wide array of businesses and services will be at the event.
A new highlight for this year’s show will be live vendor demonstrations on the main stage and an art show and sale in the Piper arena. And, the popular Festival of Flavours will return for another year.
Jayme Hall, chamber executive director, said the chamber honed in and focused on its core strength with this year’s trade show – its member businesses.
“To focus on two and do them 100 per cent to the best of our ability, I think that’s the best way to go,” he said. “I think the people attending the show appreciate that more. I also think the vendors also appreciate it too.”
The trade show is the Okotoks chamber’s biggest event of the year and it’s the only one in the Foothills this year.
Hall said the trade show is a good place for local residents and businesses to connect. Some will offer hands-on experiences. Some will have something on offer to purchase the day of the trade show, while for others it’s about exposing themselves to potential customers.
“Maybe the call to action for that person or service isn’t immediate to that person, but maybe a month or a couple months down that road they may need a specific service and remember seeing them at the trade show,” said Hall.
The Festival of Flavours will return with eight local food vendors offering a taste of what’s on their menus. Sample tickets will be available for $2 a piece.
New for 2018 will be an art show, sponsored by the Western Wheel.
A gallery-like setting will be set up in the Piper Arena next to the Festival of Flavours.
“It’s something a little unique, something we’ve never done before,” said Hall.
He said it will highlight the work of 20 artists from Okotoks and the surrounding area in the Foothills.
“They’re going to showcase themselves a little bit,” said Hall. “Okotoks is so full of raw art talent that doesn’t get a good platform to be displayed, so we are hoping to offer that ant to incorporate the arts and cultural scene for the trade show.”
Some vendors will also take the spotlight on the trade show’s main stage for live demonstrations and presentations.
“It adds a whole different experience for the show,” he said. “People can come and go out of that vendor demo, It doesn’t cost anything extra to go into it and they can see what some of the products and services are available and in action on the main stage.”
Businesses lined up to lead presentations include the Bone and Biscuit to discuss dog nutrition, 94 Take the Cake with a presentation on cake decorating, Classic Source for Sports to discuss proper skate fitting and Two Birds Furniture will lead a presentation on feature walls.
Gino De Paoli, with Two Birds Furniture, said the demonstrations are a good addition to the trade show.
“It gives businesses the opportunity to show off what they can do and not just be a storefront where you’re going to buy something and take it away,” said De Paoli.
The company has a 45-minute time slot on Saturday afternoon for its demo.
“It’s about the whole project, from what do you want to buy, how it comes to you, what you need to do to get ready for do-it-yourselfers,” said De Paoli.
The trade show is from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on April 20 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 21. The Festival of Flavours runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is $2 per person and $5 for a family. For more information visit okotokschamber.ca
