Discover Local – Community, Commerce & Cuisine hosted Tuesday, Aug. 31, at the enormous Walker County Fairgrounds invited business owners to reconnect with hundreds of people in the Huntsville community. 

The Walker County Chamber of Commerce hosted the Discover Local event allowing businesses and organizations a platform to display their goods and services. The event showcased services from clothing to healthcare.

“We’re hoping this year people will be willing to get out and do some things,” office manager for the Huntsville Walker County Chamber of Commerce Shannon Higbie said.

The goal is not only to get kids to hop on the bounce castles while parents snack restaurant food samples but to encourage locals to discover the stories in their community, according to the Chamber’s website.

“Many locals don’t think about what they have in their own community,” marketing manager for the Sam Houston Memorial Museum Megan Buro said.

Although the museum is known for its duck pond, Buro believes Discover Local is a perfect opportunity to talk to people about the various services offered across the museum’s 15 acres.

Owner of The Buzzed Cup Elizabeth Florer also shows what her coffee shop can bring to the community.

“Well, we offer fun and light-heartedness because we don’t take anything serious,” Florer said.

Nine years ago, Florer moved to Huntsville with doubts on whether she would be welcomed into the community, but her assumptions were proved wrong.

“I joined a bunch of groups and I found that the Chamber was one of the most welcoming places I had ever been,” Florer said. “Now that I am healthy again and active again, I like to support the Chamber.”

With the help of Diverse Local, many businesses of Walker County have re-introduced themselves to the community to have a great start to this fall season.