The 33rd Annual Art and Craft Show at the State Fair Event Center positions itself to fund several local causes with currently sold out vendor booths. The show will be held in the West Virginia Building Friday, Oct. 11 through Sunday, Oct. 13. With over 100 vendors signed up, there is a waiting list of vendors hoping to score a spot. According to one event coordinator Joy Arbuckle, “We are excited about this being the first year we are sold out on spaces.”
Each year the sponsor for the show, Edgewood Presbyterian Church (EPC) uses the proceeds for several causes. Scholarships are given to local students, with the number and amount of each scholarship being based on how well each year’s proceeds develop. Usually from one to six scholarships are given to local students.
A nonprofit is selected each year by the board of the event to receive financial assistance based on their need, and they are awarded ten percent of the proceeds. Nonprofits are invited to present materials to the admission table at the show or contact EPC to be considered as a future recipient of the assistance.
Additionally, money from the event will help fund the church’s Growth and Improvement Fund.
The admission is free to the three day event; however non-perishable food items or monetary donations are being accepted as voluntary admission fees as the Lewisburg-Fairlea Food Locker will be on site collecting these items. The food locker is a nonprofit organization based out of the Old Stone Presbyterian Church in Lewisburg and provides food assistance to individuals and families in the immediate area.
Artisans and craftsmen will come from all areas of West Virginia, but will also showcase handcrafted merchandise from Virginia, North Carolina and Florida. There will be homemade sweets and treats such as apple butter vended. A food court will provide an opportunity for eating on-site or take-away.
Arbuckle adds, “There is an excellent opportunity to knock out some Christmas shopping at this event because of the wide variety of merchandise the vendors bring to the show.” She also wants to remind all that “Door prizes are given away throughout the three day event.”
The hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 12 noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday. For questions about the show or how do participate in donating or presenting a nonprofit for consideration of future support, call 304-645-6023.
WRON Radio will be broadcasting live from the Art and Craft Show on Oct. 11.