Artists, crafts people and artisans will make the 35th Annual South Cariboo Winter Arts and Crafts Fair will be a gift shopper’s paradise. A huge variety of handcrafted products will cram the 100 Mile Junior Secondary School gymnasium and hallways full of goods on Nov. 9 from 6 to 9 p.m. and Nov. 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The fair is hosted by the 100 Mile & District Arts Council and they’ve carefully selected the vendors for the quality and variety of their goods.
Expect to see original art, books, glass art, pottery, wood work, fabric crafts, jewelry, paper art, fibre art, clothing, Christmas decorations, chocolates, paintings, quilting, food products and more.
Arts Council vice president Barb Hooper says their fair is a favourite with close to 60 vendors from all over the region.
“We’ve added a couple of spaces this year because we had more people who wanted to sell. The fair has grown over the years and it could get as big as we would allow.”
She’s pleased to see some new vendors in the mix.
“It enlivens it. When you add new members to anything, it changes things.”
Admission to the fair is $2 but that includes an entry into a draw for items that have been donated by each of the 60 vendors. Children under 12 years of age will be admitted free.
Once inside, plan to stay awhile because there’s plenty going on.
Live entertainment will add to the atmosphere. It will come in 15-minute segments, with two on Friday and three on Saturday. Among the performers are singer/guitarist Vern Johnson and a highland dance group.
Gold Rush Grannies will run a concession with homemade soup, chili, muffins, other various snacks and beverages. It will be located in the hallway outside the home economics room.
Santa will be there both days and photos will be taken and offered for purchase by a professional photographer.
Hooper says the winter fair will have a feeling of Christmas about it and her group will be working hard to decorate the entire space in theme.
The fair has seen different venues over the years that have changed as the fair grew. Hooper says that with talks of the junior high possibly closing, the arts council is concerned about finding a large enough space elsewhere to hold their event.