The halls were packed and parking lots stayed full as thousands of people poured through the Lloydminster Exhibition Grounds over the weekend for the 37th annual Christmas Craft Fair and Chamber Expo.
With more than 400 vendors across five buildings, the event delivered what organizers call the unofficial official start to Christmas in Lloydminster. It also generated a major economic boost for businesses across the city.
A strong start to the season
Teri Lynn Mackie, executive director of the Lloydminster Chamber of Commerce, said the event remains one of the city’s biggest annual drivers of spending.
“We are here to support our local businesses and to get out and meet the people you only see once a year,” Mackie said.
Citywide economic ripple
This weekend’s traffic extended well beyond the exhibition grounds. A cheer competition, multiple hockey events, and other activities combined to push restaurants, hotels, and retailers into one of their busiest stretches of the year.
“Lloydminster was so busy this weekend,” said Maria Kokonas, Owner of Spiro’s Family Restaurant. “It was a big weekend in the city because of everything that was going on. The craft fair definitely benefitted from that and contributed to it.”
Kokonas said preparation is key for businesses that understand seasonal trends.
“We always have our ear to the ground,” she said. “Nothing is ever a big surprise to us.”
Vendors saw the surge first hand
Chopstick, the Legion’s pop up restaurant inside the fair, sold out of food Friday and brought in 70 pounds of meat for Saturday. Revolt Motorsports had to restock some of the fast selling gear mid show. Several booths reported some of their highest foot traffic of the year.
The Chamber estimates the craft fair brings in roughly a million dollars in direct spending each year, with additional tourism pushing that number even higher.
“We are excited to have everybody come down, kick off Christmas, and support local,” said Mackie.
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