The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce kicked off its annual Small Business Celebration with a candidate showcase on March 28 at Union Station.

More than 80 companies participated in the event, featuring products from doughnuts to escape rooms to lingerie.

The Small Business Celebration honors the entrepreneurial companies that contribute to Kansas City’s economy. From the 75 candidates that participated in the showcase, the group will be narrowed to the Top 10 Small Businesses of the Year.

All of the companies will be featured at the Top 10 Think Tank: Small Businesses Best Practices Breakfast on May 3. One company will be selected as the Mr. K Award winner at a luncheon May 24.

Candidates are selected by an independent panel of judges. Companies are judged based on business principles of the late Kansas City entrepreneur Ewing Kauffman (Mr. K): growth or sustainability in business, excellent employee relations and outstanding service to the community.

This is the 32nd year of the Small Business Celebration. The first Mr. K Award winner in 1988 was Cerner Corp. For more information about the program and upcoming events, visit the chamber’s website.