Photo courtesy Greater Leander Chamber of CommerceThe first annual Living Leander Community Expo in November 2013 featured an indoor festival that showcased Leander's businesses, organizations and restaurants.
The Greater Leander Chamber of Commerce's second annual Living Leander Community Expo promises a broader showcase of Leander's wares than the inaugural event in 2013.
From 4 to 8 p.m., local artists, businesses, organizations and restaurants will host vendor booths at Premier Athletic Complex at 8220 Toll 183A in Leander. The chamber expects 1,000 to 2,000 guests—twice the attendance of the first expo in November 2013, Chamber President Bridget Brandt said.
"We have 25 more vendors this year [and] lots more retail this year," Brandt said.
Admission is free for the Friday event. Guests will be entered in a drawing for a $1,000 gift certificate that can be spent toward products and services from any of the expo vendors.
The expo also features live entertainment on two stages that will include local bands, choirs, dancers and martial arts demonstrations.
"We had demand to add more people who wanted to participate from the performance level," Brandt said. "Last year we only had one stage, so we've added a new stage. And we've redesigned the floor plan so that traffic will flow more smoothly through the expo."
Santa Claus will again visit this year's expo and mingle with guests. A separate private program featuring cookies, milk and storytelling with Santa will cost $5, Brandt said.
Seven local construction, professional and retail companies will be recruiting new employees during the event, she added.
"It's a big opportunity for people to discover local businesses and to shop local when it matters," Brandt said. "We want people to know how they can shop local, where they can shop local, and why it's important. This gives people an opportunity to do that on a very big scale."
