It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas — at least it will at the next Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce Community Expo.
The annual expo, which showcases local businesses and gives them the chance to promote themselves, is changing its tune in 2015 and adopting a Christmas theme. The move was done not only to introduce a new theme, but also to encourage local businesses to get in the holiday spirit.
“(We) thought it would be a great opportunity for local businesses to sell holiday-themed items,” Chairman Jim Scott said.
Scott and the chamber have gone all-out in making the event as festive as possible. The John R. Trinkle Center at Hillsborough Community College in Plant City will be decorated to suit the holiday, and everything will be family-friendly. Youth groups will be singing and entertaining at the expo, and Santa Claus will stop by for pictures for anyone who brings their own smartphone or camera.
The expo will feature door prizes, and the only thing guests will have to pay for are the drinks, which include beer, wine, coffee, soda and hot chocolate. Some of the restaurants participating in the event will offer free samples.
The expo booths are normally comprised of businesses that are members of the chamber, but Scott said this year’s expo is also open to non-members.
The chamber encourages all participating businesses to offer some holiday-themed items, in keeping with the theme.
The expo will take place from 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1. Even the times have been changed for the holiday, as Scott and the chamber are hoping a later start will bring a bigger turnout.
“We want plenty of time for people to go home, get their families and come back,” Scott says. “We want people who work during the day to get their kids and come on up.”
For more information on the Plant City Chamber of Commerce, visit PlantCity.org.
Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.
IF YOU GO
Where: John R. Trinkle Center at Hillsborough Community College, 1206 N. Park Road
When: 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1
Cost: Free admission; drinks and some vendor items will cost money. Prices vary.