While a slew of centennial activities are slated for this weekend, the celebration will continue next month when the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce focuses on “Celebrating 100 Years of Community & Lifestyle” at its 15th-annual spring home and leisure show.
And Chamber co-ordinator Dawn Booth still is looking for more exhibitors to fill up the Ice for Kids Arena for the May 9-10 event.
“We do have lots of spaces booked already, but there’s always room for more,” she noted yesterday afternoon.
With 37 exhibitors currently booked, Booth said she hopes to see at least 50. Exhibitors so far are varied, covering everything from cosmetics to kayaks, honey, and solar panels.
Booth noted there is no deadline to register for the trade show, adding the organizing committee will try to “squeeze in” almost anyone who contacts them before the date of the event.
For more information or to book your space, call Booth at 274-5773 (or toll-free 1-800-820-3678).
As 2003 marks Fort Frances’ centennial, Booth said all the exhibitors are being encouraged to use the theme as best they can.
“We want them to dress in costume, display old and new products, present the history of their business, offer historical promotions, or whatever they can come up with,” she remarked.
“There are endless possibilities. I think it’ll be great to see what everyone does.”
And what would a trade show be without people for vendors to show their wares? To that end, Booth said organizers have been working hard to line up a variety of attractions to draw in the public.
An exciting addition to this year’s show will be the antique fair. To help out, the Chamber has hired professional appraiser Dr. John Cooper of Winnipeg to do appraisals for the general public.
“As this is the first time something like this has been held in the area, I think it will go over very well,” enthused Booth. “Other communities hold antique fairs annually with great response. It fits in well with our theme.”
To make an appointment to have you antique(s) appraised, contact centennial co-ordinator Marla Simpson at 274-7891.
Other activities—slated to take place both inside and outside the arena—will include antique cars rides, old-fashioned photos, a petting zoo, door prizes, penny auctions and silent auctions, an exhibitor spotlight segment, daily entertainment, pony rides, inflatable bouncers, virtual reality games, carnival games, and a kids’ corner with colouring, face-painting, and lots more fun.
The trade show will run Friday, May 9 from noon-9 p.m. and again Saturday, May 10 from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. A mix-n-mingle for the exhibitors is slated for 9 p.m. on May 9.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
