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In past years, the gymnasiums of Catoctin High School have been transformed into the streets of New Orleans during Mardi Gras, the Wild West and a Hawaiian luau for the Thurmont Business Expo.

On Friday, decks of cards, at least one roulette wheel and an Elvis Presley impersonator will be in the building from 6 to 9 p.m. for the sixth annual event, which will feature a Viva Las Vegas theme.

Planning the expo is a joint effort between the Thurmont Economic Development Committee and Main Street Thurmont, two organizations that work toward bettering the town economically. Organizers say the event has traditionally been a great opportunity for local businesses and franchise owners.

"I've been told by a couple people that it's like the social event of the year," said Nancy Gregg Poss, the town's Main Street manager.

And while attendees tend to have fun at the expo, it's really meant to "showcase what businesses choose to make Thurmont their home," she said. "I've always been amazed by what businesses were here that I didn't know about."

Diana Stull, expo chairwoman and a town business owner who has participated in the event since it's first year, said she is always surprised by the number of people who say "Oh, I didn't know they were here in Thurmont" after visiting booths that local businesses set up.

"There's things right here in town ... you don't have to travel elsewhere," she said. In fact, all of the businesses that participate must be located within the 21788 ZIP code.

As of Tuesday, 79 businesses were signed up for the expo, Poss said.

Although there are fewer participants this year than in 2009, "I'm not upset by that number, I think that it's great in today's economy," she said. The expo is "truly making people aware [of] ... where we can be spending our dollars without leaving Thurmont," she added.

Economic Development Committee chairman John Kinnaird said between 1,200 and 1,500 people usually attend the event.

"It's a success every year," he said. "Everybody always has a good time."

That is due largely to the effort by organizers to choose a fun theme. Along with the Elvis impersonator, the Elower-Sicilia dance group, the Catoctin High School show choir and a piano player will perform, Kinnaird said. Participating businesses also try to fit in with the theme by decorating their booths or dressing up, Stull added.

Donna Bollinger, owner of Bollinger's Restaurant, said she has tossed around the idea of dressing up like a black jack dealer for event. But even if she decides against the outfit, her booth will definitely be decorated, she said. This will be the restaurant's third year participating in the expo.

"It's good exposure," she said, adding that food and drink samples will be handed out at her booth. And while she doesn't expect that many Thurmont residents don't already know about the restaurant, seeing the business represented at the expo and tasting the food could help bring in new customers who have never eaten there or who are from out of town, she said.

Judi Smith, co-owner of Hillside Turkey Farms, also employs the free-food strategy at the expo, she said. While she doesn't know how many new customers the event can help bring to her business, handing out samples of less popular items gives current customers the opportunity to taste things they wouldn't normally buy, she said. This year's freebies will include sweet Italian turkey sausage and turkey jerky, she said. The stand will also feature a card game.

George Puvel won't be handing out any food samples, but he hopes to inform Thurmont dwellers that they can work off all those calories at Anytime Fitness, the gym he has owned and operated in town for just less than a year. This will be the first Thurmont Business Expo in which he has participated.

"As a new business it's a great opportunity ... to allow the community to get an idea of what we have to offer," he said.

The booth will feature a roulette wheel that attendees can spin to win prizes ranging from lanyards with the Anytime Fitness logo on them to free mini-memberships, which will allow them to use the gym free for two weeks. Two pieces of the gym's equipment will also be on display.

In addition to allowing businesses to reach out to potential customers, "I think it's the best opportunity that the community has organized ... to get to know who the business people in the community are," he said.

E-mail Courtney Pomeroy at cpomeroy@gazette.net.