The 2016 Okotoks & District Chamber of Commerce Trade & Lifestyle Show was a huge hit.

It was the biggest show the Chamber had ever put on with 171 vendors, along with the Festival of Flavours and a newly added car show, to the mix.

Chamber CEO Cheryl Actemichuk says they had a strong showing of attendance over the two day event.

"We think had around 4000 people there, looking at what our dollar amount was for attendance, plus adding the car show this year we'd sure like to increase the traffic in there if they'd like to come back, but all in all it was a great weekend," she says.

Actemichuk says the show just gets bigger and better each year with the Festival of Flavours satisfying everybody's palate.

"We actually did the flavours at the event a few years ago, it didn't start out to be as big as it is now. Now we have seven or eight different restaurants that participate and of course all of the feedback that, we compile and we're working on 2017's show already."

Actemichuk says the next event the Chamber will be hosting will deal with how to help local businesses stay strong even in these cloudy economic times.

"We are having a luncheon April 29th with Derek Fildebrandt, who is the MLA for Strathmore-Brooks, and Grant Hunter who's the MLA for Cardston-Taber-Warner along with our own MLA Wayne Anderson. They are going talk about Alberta's 2016 budget and the new minimum wage and what impacts it will have on small business."

Questions, comments, or story ideas? Email us at news@okotoksonline.com