The Front Range Showcase welcomed thousands to the Douglas
County Events Center over the weekend, where area businesses took
advantage of the opportunity to share their products with residents
in and around Castle Rock.
The showcase is hosted each year by the Castle Rock Chamber of
Commerce, which this year set up booths for 107 vendors who took
advantage of the one-stop shopping opportunity.
The Front Range Showcase business expo ran for two days March 20
and 21 with free cake for visitors in celebration of its 16th
event. Sweet 16 was the event theme, with cake courtesy of
Distinctive Furniture and Dream Pastries.
Touch-A-Truck made its second appearance at the showcase, with
more than 20 trucks, including a fire truck, a Schwann’s delivery
truck, complete with free food samples, and a mobile Army
mechanic’s truck.
The feature gave kids the chance to get up close and personal
with motorized vehicles they rarely otherwise see. Touch-A-Truck
was a welcome addition to the event, said Robin Slutsky, event
manager.
“I think it went very well,” Slutsky said. “The vendors were
pleased with the set-up and the positive public response to what
they are representing.”
This year’s showcase featured the Explorer program’s drunken
driving obstacle course, Boy Scout Troop 780, which handed out free
water and took care of trash pick up and a plethora of live
entertainment.
The venue featured live music from the Castle Rock Orchestra
Jazz Quartet, the Crawdads, a Castle Rock Cajun southern rock band,
and the Douglas County High School Choir.
Area businesses got creative with demonstrations and freebies
for visitors, including an interactive feature at the Sport Clips
booth.
Owner Susan Thayer runs the Sport Clips at Founders Boulevard
and Interstate 25. Working with a suggestion from her husband,
Thayer awarded a free haircut to every visitor who threw a “strike”
on the bowling game.
By noon Saturday she had handed out 17 free haircuts.
“We made a lot of new clients this weekend,” she said.
In keeping with the Sweet 16 theme, chamber sponsors handed out
“birthday” cake to visitors, courtesy of Distinctive Furniture and
Dream Pastries.
Complimentary food samples proved the draw among the more
popular booths, including tastes from Qdoba’s Mexican Grill, the
Black-eyed Pea, Skadoodles Baked Goods and Chick-fil-A.
Title sponsors of the event included CoWest Insurance Group and
Pinnacol Assurance.
For more information about the chamber and for a list of
upcoming events, visit the Web site at www.castlerock.org.
Showcase
