PALESTINE — The Palestine Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting two of its biggest events of the summer this week — the Taste of Palestine on Thursday and the Business Expo on Friday.

A limited number of tickets are available for the Taste of Palestine, which will be held from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Palestine Mall.

“Only 300 tickets will be sold for Taste of Palestine and we only have a few left,” Chamber Board of Directors President Sloan Shuffler said. “Tickets are available at the Chamber office for $15, but we don’t have many left. If we do have any, they will be available at the door for $20. If people can’t get to the chamber office, they can call with a credit card and pick up their pre-purchased tickets at the door to make sure they can get in. Last year, we sold out of tickets and had to turn people away.”

The Business Expo will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday at the Palestine Mall. Admission is free to this event.

“These two combined events give us an opportunity to show off our members. The two events are designed to draw more attention to both the food vendors in town and the retailers. We give the food vendors the opportunity to have space at Friday’s Expo, so that they can talk to potential customers, since they are so busy serving during the Taste,” Shuffler said. “Taste of Palestine gives the public the opportunity to try out some foods at restaurants that perhaps they have never gone to before. From the vendor point of view, it gives them an opportunity to serve some of the more interesting dishes that perhaps they don’t ordinarily serve.”

Confirmed participants for the Taste of Palestine event include: Bishop’s Brisket House, Bon Appetit Coffee Shop & Bakery, Contemporary Catering, Cotton Patch Cafe, Dairy Queen, Denby’s, Diamond B Ranch, Elkhart Oaks Care Center, Granny Muffin Wines, Habanero’s, Kim’s Convenience Store, Mazzio’s Pizza, Palestine Regional Medical Center, Pizza Hut, Sabor a Pasión Country House and Bistro, Sisters Dining Depot, Subs & Dogs, Sweet Dreams Winery, The Cuckoo’s Nest, The Ranch House and Walmart.

Those attending will get the chance to vote for the Taste of Palestine’s best restaurant, best bakery/deli and the best winery.

Confirmed participants for the Business Expo include: Academy Apartments, Allstate Insurance, American Red Cross, Anderson County Republicans, Atmos Energy, Bar-S Ranch Resort, Carol Metteauer- National Farm Life Agent, Caring Companions, Carroll’s Automotive, CASA of Trinity Valley, Centurylink, Christian Heritage Academy, CJ Enterprises, Contemporary Catering, Crown Home Health Services, Denby’s, Diamond B Ranch, Dogwood Trails Assisted Living, East Texas Copy Systems, East Texas Home Inspection & Pest Control Services, Edward Jones, Elkhart Oaks Care Center, Gold Eye Clinic, Goodwill of East Texas, Greenbrier Nursing, Gutter Helmet, Harry’s Building Materials, Heritage Land Bank, Holiday Inn Express, Integracare Home Health & Hospice, KBHT Radio, KYYK Radio, Lakeview Methodist Conference Center, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Oasis Travel, Oncor Electric Delivery, Palestine Association of Realtors, Palestine Herald-Press, Palestine Public Library, Palestine Regional Medical Center, Red Hat Rentals, Regions Bank, Resolutions Weight Loss Center, Richardson Media & Publishing, Shirley’s Portraits, Shop My Town First, STS Electronic Recycling, Third Day Heat & Air, Toni’s Petals & Parties, Trinity Valley Community College, Trucare Living Centers, University of Texas at Tyler Palestine Campus, Verizon Wireless and Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC.

“The Business Expo is a free event to the public and has many new exhibitors. The library will be having their book sale. Oncor always has interesting and interactive activities. Again, we will have opportunities to meet with our public officials,” Shuffler said. “The best way to find out who has a business in Palestine, is to come see for themselves, and meet the owners face to face. I invite consumers to come find the treasures in our community.”

During the Business Expo Friday, various public officials will be available during this schedule:

• 11 to 11:45 a.m. — “Cookies with the Chief” with Police Chief Robert Herbert

• 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. — “Munchies with the Mayor” with Mayor Bob Herrington

• 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. —  “Juice with the Judge” with County Judge Robert Johnston

• 1:15 to 2 p.m. — “Sweets with the Sheriff” with Sheriff Greg Taylor

• 2 to 2:45 p.m. — “Oreos™ with the Ohrt” with City Manager Michael Ohrt

“The Chamber Expo was originally developed for retail members who were unable to make it to the luncheons, seminars and other functions, because they were busy running their businesses. The Expo is a forum for retailers to display and bring attention to their wares and expand their client base,” Shuffler said. “Participants describe it as a win for everybody: the public gets to see products and services while meeting the owners of the business and getting a one-on-one opportunity to talk, and also get invaluable networking opportunities with other exhibitors. Additionally, exhibitors are invited to an ‘after party’ where they get to network with those vendors they didn’t get to meet.”

From the chamber’s perspective, there are many hidden treasures in our own community.

“The smart consumers will shop and do business in Palestine before they go anywhere else. Why? Because every dollar is tied to another dollar, and each dollar turns around nearly seven times. That means dollars to be used back here in Palestine to pay for services, roads etc. that we all enjoy. It helps bolster our local economy, helping businesses prosper,” Shuffler said. “Think about your favorite three small Palestine businesses and how much you would miss them if they were gone. These are your neighbors; people that employ other neighbors and are working in our community to make it better. Why would anyone want to support somebody else’s community instead of our own? Even something simple, like purchasing gasoline before you drive to Tyler for something helps our community.”

To buy tickets for the Taste of Palestine or find out more information about the Business Expo, call the Palestine Area Chamber of Commerce at 903-729-6066 or stop by at 401 W. Main St. in Palestine.