By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
Despite spates of scattered rains, hundreds of community members attended the Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce’s Community Business and Wellness Fair along Antioch Street and Via De La Paz on Sunday, May 19.
“We were fighting the weather—it was raining in the morning, but it cleared up and we had quite a few people come,” Chamber Chairman Richard Blumenberg said, adding that he estimates that the fair was attended by 750 to 1,000 people.
The event is part of the Chamber’s approach to focusing on driving business to its members, following a revamped holiday-time event, the Christmas Stroll.
Thirty-one booths and tables were manned by local businesses, including Chabad of Pacific Palisades, Kehillat Israel, Groza Learning Center, Luxe Homecare, Palisadian-Post and more.
The event, sponsored by My Westside Home, The Palisades Dentists, Face Center LA, RLB Architecture and Dentistry by Design, featured an assortment of family-friendly entertainment, including a train.
“The goal was to promote our member businesses and what our intent was, because we had family-friendly activities, such as the track with train, slide and carnival games, was that we would attract families to the event and they could visit our member booths,” Blumenberg explained.
In order to ride the rides, attendees had to visit booths and receive tickets.
“It encouraged people to come to the booths, that was the only way they could do the rides,” Blumenberg said. “I think everyone who participated was very happy with the result.”
Other festivities included food trucks, free activities designed for adults and children, and live music and entertainment. Attendees were treated to performances by Amazing Music, Gerry Blanck’s Martial Arts and Fancy Feet.
When asked if the Chamber would host another fair, Blumenberg quickly responded: “Absolutely.”
The next few Chamber events include a Taste of the Palisades.
“It will be similar to the Christmas Stroll,” Blumenberg said. “People will go restaurant to restaurant, and taste some samples of their food.”
Other upcoming events include a Speaker Series, breakfasts and mixers.
“We’re really trying to focus on our member businesses and give them value,” Blumenberg said. “[We’re trying to] give them an opportunity to network with each other and have people come to their business—that’s what our focus will be this year.”
