As many as 250 vendors will be under the same roof as the Okotoks & District Chamber of Commerce joins forces with Market Square to stage a popular annual event next month.
The chamber’s 2023 Trade & Lifestyle Show will be held April 1 and 2 at the Okotoks Recreation Centre, the same weekend that Market Square will hold its Spring Fling artisan market.
Dawn LeMaistre, executive director of the chamber, said the Trade & Lifestyle Show has space for 150 vendors covering a wide variety of sectors.
“We have everything from plumbers and electricians to lawyers and insurance companies to real estate agents, mortgage brokers; you name it, it’s all over the map,” she said.
Last year’s show was held later in the spring, on the Mother’s Day weekend, due to the pandemic, but returns to its traditional April spot on the calendar this year. LeMaistre said the vendor count was down last year because of the later date, but she’s hopeful it will bounce back with a return to April.
She said about 50 per cent of vendor spaces have been sold thus far. Information for vendors, including table pricing and an application form, is available at okotokschamber.ca.
New this year at the show will be a Community Corner that will feature a stage that will see bands play throughout the weekend as well as a Kids Fun Zone courtesy of title sponsor Shaw Business.
Shaw Business will also be boosting internet service at the recreation centre during the show to make it easier for vendors to run video, point of sale terminals and other electronics.
The Spring Fling will see vendors that typically don’t have a brick-and-mortar store selling items they’ve created. That artisan market could have as many as 90 vendors as well as several food trucks out front of the building.
The two shows will run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on April 1 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 2. Admission is $5 per person, which gets you in to both shows.
