GROVE CITY — The 13th annual Grove City Trade Show on Saturday brought out more than 3,000 people.

Mitch McFeely, president of the Grove City Chamber of Commerce board of directors, said the show always is popular.

“It's almost like a carnival or a festival, you get to see people you haven't seen in years,” he said.

The show at Grove City College's Physical Learning Center featured more than 100 vendors, as well as a raffle for a $2,000 “money tree.”

McFeely said there was a lot of diversity in vendors, adding that new vendors every year keep the show fresh.

George Rodgers, owner of Grove City Agway, has come to the show since the beginning.

“It's probably the biggest single event of the year that we contact our clientele,” Rodgers said.

During a typical show, the store hands out 150 boxes of free samples.

“That's a lot of samples,” Rodgers said.

Part of the reason that Rodgers keeps returning is that it always brings in new customers.

“There's always customers out there,” he said.

Steve Campbell, manager of the Guthrie Theater, said the theater also has been at the show since the beginning.

“It's to let (the people) know we are there,” Campbell said.

He said people often are charmed by the atmosphere of the theater, which was built in 1927.

During the show, the theater had raffles for free movie passes every hour. It also handed out free popcorn.

“The aroma of popcorn just ferments throughout the whole building,” Campbell said.

Camille Valenza-Hazelton, sous chef at Nonnie's Corner Trattoria, was at her second trade show. After attending the show last year, the restaurant saw an increase in business.

“We love the people,” she said.

The restaurant was selling food such as hot dogs, meatball hoagies and ravioli, leaving a constant line of people at its table.

Leigh Ann Harvey, owner of Tame 2 Twisted salon in Liberty Township, was at the show for the first time. She was surprised by the number of people.

“I'm overwhelmed,” Harvey said.

She opened her salon in November. So far, she said the community has been supporting her business.

“I thought that this would be a good way to get more out there,” Harvey said.

Fay Steving, co-owner of Highland Alpaca in Worth Township, Mercer County, was at her third show.

“We think it is a good way to have the community learn about the farm,” Steving said. “It's (for) people who might have heard of us but didn't know where we are.”

The company breeds and sells alpacas as well as sells items such as socks, scarves and coats made out of alpaca fur.

Shawn Sweeny, owner of Sweeny Photography in Springfield Township, said he has been coming to the show for 12 years.

“You get to see, not only old clients, but you get new clients hopefully,” Sweeny said.

He said he talks to other vendors at the show because they often are great customers.

A member of the show's committee, Sweeny said he was happy that the weather was nice for the event. Often times, snow falls on the day of the event.

“But people always come,” Sweeny said.