Beads, masks, music and southern food will just be some of the sights, sounds and tastes of the Ponoka and District Chamber of Commerce’s annual Mardi Gras theme Trade Fair on April 25 and 26.
The Trade Fair will be at the Ponoka Culture and Recreation Complex and will feature approximately 100 booths of businesses and organizations.
“There’s a large variety of interesting and eclectic booths,” said Marieke Mulligan executive manager of the chamber. “Some will be selling and others are for display and information.”
The Trade Fair gives businesses and organizations a chance to have a high profile in the community and will be an opportunity for the public to see each display and their products and services.
The taste of New Orleans will be available for everyone’s enjoyment at a food court and will offer jambalaya and Cajun dishes including Cajun shrimp.
The Trade Fair will also feature a Guitar Hero contest. Golden tickets for this activity can be bought from Mr. Bill’s Computers, the Great Canadian Dollar Store and Superfood. Registration is complete when the golden ticket stub is filled out. The tickets will be a pass into the Trade Fair and the guitar hero contest. Tickets can also be purchased at the door but will cost more.
The Trade Fair will also include live music showcasing local talent, Ponoka Elementary School choir, St. Augustine School choir and drama club.
A family friendly Mardi Gras parade will also be an attraction. Children from Grade 6 and under will dress up in costumes and they can also bring their pets in the parade. Registration will be available the beginning of April and forms will be distributed in schools and at the Ponoka News.
The public will also be able to try their skills at a nine hole mini golf course and enjoy a farmer’s market.
The show hours for the Trade Fair will be from 3 to 9 p.m. on April 25 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 26.