ROAR Expo goes off without a hitch: 5,000-plus show for annual Republic chamber gathering
A packed crowd maneuvers their way through booths set up by local vendors at the ROAR Expo on Aug. 1.
A scene from the second floor of the Expo showing hundreds, if not thousands of attendees milling through the gymnasium floor.
Republic City Administrator Colten Harris gets dunked by a well-thrown softball. (Photos by Ethan Gray)
The Republic Area Chamber of Commerce hosted their annual ROAR Expo at the Republic Community Center on Aug. 1 to a high turnout.
The event saw more than 100 businesses attend with patrons, looking to score a free ticket to the RUSH aquatic center, numbered much higher.
The expo welcomed an estimated 5,000 attendees, according to Chamber Director Macy Mitchell.
The floor of the community center was packed full with patrons as they tried to fill out their passports in pursuit of free swag and a ticket to the RUSH.
ROAR Expo boasted multiple activities beyond just vendor booths. Kids got to experience a variety of bounce houses and games outside along with a small petting zoo.
Kids also took turns drenching community figureheads in the dunk tank, as Mayor Eric Franklin, City Administrator Colten Harris, and many others took the plunge.
The Expo was also an opportunity to give back to the community, as nearly 1,000 backpacks and upwards of 10,000 school supplies were distributed to kids in attendance. The first 500 backpacks were passed out within the first hour.
Free haircuts were also provided by Sport Clips and All Star Barber, an opportunity that was utilized by hundreds, said Mitchell.
In all, the ROAR Expo was the best yet, in Mitchell’s estimation.
“The Republic ROAR Expo was, without question, the best one we’ve hosted to date,” said Mitchell. “What makes this event special isn’t just the attendance or the activities … it’s the opportunity to connect our community with the local businesses that serve them every day, reminding us that behind every business is a family working hard to make a difference. Thanks to the generosity of our chamber members and sponsors, thousands of school supplies, hundreds of free haircuts, food, entertainment, and family activities were provided at no cost, and the positive feedback from both vendors and attendees has been overwhelming. We’re incredibly proud of what Republic put together.”
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