LAC LA BICHE - Forget back-to-back events, the upcoming Spring Trade Show from the Lac La Biche and District Chamber of Commerce and the Spring Sale hosted by the Lac La Biche Agricultural Society will be side-by-side at the Bold Center during the April 12 weekend.
The Spring Trade Show and a Festival of Food runs April 13 and 14 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. in Fieldhouse 1, while the one-day Spring Sale will be in Fieldhouse 2 on April 13 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The events will feature local businesses and home-based crafters, restaurant and food providers, local service providers, farm-based produce and baking.
River McDonald, the Chamber of Commerce executive director, said the idea of having some overlap was an effective way to get more visibility for both events and for people to work together.
“It’s just good for business,” McDonald told Lakeland This Week. “We’re here to help boost business… and the Ag Society is around for farmers and crafters, and it helps them as well.”
McDonald said the purpose of the Spring Trade Show and Festival of Food is to boost visibility on area businesses-including local restaurants and caterers-by showcasing their products as well as some of the diverse cuisine that can be found across the community.
According to McDonald, during the two days of the event, there will be a variety of goods on offer from area businesses for shoppers to browse and purchase, ranging from boats and ATVs to crafts, jewelry, and hair products.
“It’s a good opportunity for everybody to get out… see what’s out there… and take a look yeah… do some shopping,” she said.
Old and new
The Spring Sale has been hosted locally by the Ag Society for 12 years. This is the first time the Chamber of Commerce has hosted its event. McDonald said the local organization that represents roughly 100 businesses is hopeful that it too will become an annual thing.
“We are looking at making it a yearly event,” she said.
Bev Tkachuk, the manager of the Lac La Biche Farmers’ Market, said the annual Spring Sale is held to support local home businesses and crafters by giving them a place to sell their products and to promote their businesses.
“It’s so amazing to see all the fabulous creations from our talented, creative community,” she stated.
According to Tkachuk, there will be more than 80 vendors selling a diverse array of products including pottery, jewelry, birdhouses, sports memorabilia, clothing, and hockey cards in the fieldhouse adjacent to where the Lac La Biche Chamber of Commerce will be holding their Spring Trade Show and Festival of Food. Furthermore, she stated representatives from Pampered Chef and Scentsy will be at the event. Indigenous crafts, books, bath bombs, as well as baked goods will also be on offer.
Tkachuk said while this is an Ag Society event, it’s about supporting all aspects of the community. She explained that the local non-profit group Kids Are Worth It will be at the sale doing a fundraising raffle to support snacks for lunches at schools.
“We also have a youth group that helps out the vendors to move in, and they also get a donation,” she said.
Organizers of the annual Spring Sale begin reaching out to vendors three months ago, and the event sells available booths very quickly, Tkachuk explained, adding that this year’s sale has already been sold out.
Details about both events can be found in local advertisements in the Lakeland This Week newspaper.
