“We’re trying to keep the event industry alive,” said event manager Kevin Tucker, citing sparse attendance in lieu of the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent restrictions. “These events are about helping the community.”

“We’re new to this area and it was nice to learn about the different facilities we can have access to,” said Emma Lima, a Wesley Chapel resident who attended the event with her husband Nick Giordani and step-daughter Brooke Giordani.

Aside from a room promoting businesses, a cheerleading organization from New Jersey was there for a two-day weekend clinic. Mike Martinez, co-owner of Next Level All-Star Cheerleading, said the primary goal was the let high school cheerleaders preparing for college know “that they’re capable of more than what they think they can do.”

“I do want to continue cheering in college,” said Cypress Creek sophomore Emily Swartz, adding, “I do want to get in more tumbling.”

Along the lines of health and fitness, Camp Gladiator instructors Maggie Rodriguez and Bola Adeshina let people know about their fitness classes. Tampa Premium Outlets in Lutz and Wesley Chapel District Park are among the local sites they have been at, and they intend to conduct classes at the new Wiregrass Ranch facility.

Jill Brown, a fit Wesley Chapel resident who lifts weights and does yoga, stopped at a booth for Wiregrass Direct Primary Care.

“I’m here. I showed up,” said Brown, noting that a local event like last Saturday’s “is needed.”

Among some of the other vendors there were Absolute Home Care Solutions, Vein and Vascular Institute of Tampa Bay and other health care companies such as CarePlus and Cigna.

“I like the location and I like the openness of it,” Grace Ponce, a medical assistant with Advanced Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery said of the event and site.

Added Kara Stratton, with the Vein and Vascular Institute, “I’ve been looking for ways to get us out in the community and this is the first thing that popped up. I think it really aligned with the business we offer.”