For roughly the last six months, members of the Sundre and District Chamber of Commerce have been working to prepare for the organization's inaugural Explore Sundre Adventure and Home Expo.
“That's going really well,” said Mike Beukeboom, chamber president.
“We are really excited about having both the curling rink and the arena being used.”
When Beukeboom spoke with the Round Up last week, he said the expo would feature 60 vendor spaces and that most of them had been booked up but that some booths remained available.
“We're feeling good about that, especially with first year,” he said, adding that organizers' expectations had been surpassed.
There are some “fantastic” vendors that will be at the expo, including a mix of different types of local and regional businesses as well as others from outside our area, he said.
The expo is scheduled to start this Friday, May 13 from 2-8 p.m. at the arena and curling rink. On Saturday, May 14, the event will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., while on Sunday, May 15 it will go for a half day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
As a cost of admission for the event, organizers are asking people to make a contribution for the Mountain View County Food Bank either in the form of a non-perishable food item or cash donation, said Beukeboom.
The ultimate goal for the expo is to create a new local annual event that has the potential to keep growing while offering the same, positive impact on the community, as for example, the Sundre Pro Rodeo, he said.
“This past year, the Visitor Information Centre saw an all-time record of 4,000 visitors,” he wrote recently in an email.
“We expect that number to continue to grow with ‘staycations' and international tourism expected to hit new levels in Alberta. The time is now for this event.”
During the prolonged challenging economic times, the chamber is working to actively create new opportunities for the business community to grow and expand, and the expo will provide a chance for local entrepreneurs to meet and generate interest from new and existing customers, he said.
“We are about never-ending adventure and relaxation, golf, rafting, hiking, fishing, riding and camping. Everything from solar panels to fishing rods, acreage tractors to backyard decks and barbecues fit at this expo.”
Sundre and its surrounding area is also all about acreages, ranching as well as recreational vehicle and outdoor lifestyles, he said.
“It (the expo) will simply be a great way to kick off the summer sales season!”
