The Christmas shopping season in Warren County begins in earnest today with the opening of the 52nd Warren County Arts & Crafts Fair at Milner Recreation Center. The show, sponsored by Homeland Community Bank, opens today at 10 a.m. It closes at 8 p.m. Friday night and opens again on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
The crafts fair is a Warren County tradition that generations have made part of their holiday celebrations. This year's show features 120 vendors, many of which have been attending the show for decades as well as some newcomers. This marks the event's second year in Milner Recreation Center since the massive Civic Center renovation which displaced the fair from its traditional home for a couple of years. "The elevator has been a huge plus in allowing vendors to move in upstairs. The staff is always wonderful and the facility is great," Cindy Rogers, marketing director of Homeland Community Bank, said of the upgrades.
As past attendees of the crafts fair know, a wide variety of items can be found at the show and it is a good place to pick up Christmas decorations or gifts which can't be found in stores. "It is very much a tradition and it kind of kicks off the Christmas season," Rogers said. "We have stained glass, knives, porcelain, pottery, all kinds of wood turning and wood work, crochet, home decor, Christmas decorations, jewelry, jellies and jams, baked goods, quilts, toys and much more," Rogers added.
Angela Rigsby Bond is one of the returning vendors who has been selling her crafts and woodwork at the show for over 30 years. Previously located on the second floor, this year will be her second on the main floor level. When asked what keeps her coming back to the crafts fair, she said, "It's a project me and my brother, Aaron Rigsby, do together. He cuts everything out for us. We couldn't do it without him."
Another longtime vendor offering decorative woodwork is the team of Kermit and Shirlene Stiles. "We've been doing this for at least 10 years. I do the woodwork and she does the painting. She has the ideas and tells me what to build and I try to figure out what she's telling me," Kermit said with a chuckle. "This is a tradition. We tell everybody Christmas starts in August for us, because that's when we start working for the crafts fair. We were working every day in October, but it's fun and it's a good place to see everybody I haven't seen in forever." Kermit said.
Milner Recreation Center is located at 500 Garfield St. Admission to the crafts fair is free. Attendees are invited to register for a $250 cash prize from Homeland Community Bank. Food from Prater's BBQ and Good Ol' Sloppy Top will be available. The show closes Saturday night at 6 p.m.
