The annual Marching Band Craft Fair went as planned Nov. 9 and 10, despite minor concerns about buckles in the A gym floor interrupting the event.
“When the news that there were some issues with the floor came about, they didn’t really know what was happening with it,” said associate director of bands Dean Anderson, who is also a head organizer of the fair. “Obviously, that raised our concern because if something were to happen where we couldn’t have this event in the gym, we would have to come up with some plan Bs or alternatives.”
Mr. Anderson said the Craft Fair brings in the most money for the band’s booster program than any other event all year. Without it, student instrumentalists might have to personally cover more costs.
“Without this event, it [would] alter how we do Marching Band, whether it be cutting staff members or the overall package that we have for music and visuals,” Mr. Anderson said.
The organizers knew they were probably in the clear when they heard the floor would be receiving a patch to fix the buckles. Mr. Anderson said he became more confident when they were told that large-scale repairs would not occur until the source of the moisture causing the buckles was found.
As the event approached and the source remained unknown, the gym looked set to host the massive fair.
“Surprisingly, the closer we got to the event, the more we felt like we were going to be able to have it,” Mr. Anderson said. “I know that the district, if there was an issue where they thought we wouldn’t be able to have this, they would’ve let us know the second they felt that.”
The fair went as planned, with “no issues,” according to Mr. Anderson. Kelli Wilkinson, of MW Custom Designs, sold hand-burned hats with her sister in the A gym. She sat at her booth burning flowers onto the rim of a brown hat as customers milled about.
Wilkinson has been selling at craft fairs for six years – first with her daughter as a clay jewelry artist and now with her sister and their hat business.
“[Local craft fairs bring] exposure – exposure on how we present and how we express ourselves through art,” Wilkinson said. “Our hats are not just hats. You’re wearing art. You’re wearing hand-done art.”
She said the fair showcases unity between all artists, including musical ones, which is important in the creative community.
“I don’t care if you paint a painting or you knit or you sew. You are expressing yourself through art, and art can be all sorts of different genres,” Wilkinson said.
Marilyn Sticht and her husband have been participating in the Marching Band Craft Fair for about a decade. Their business, J&M Handcrafted Pens and Things, sells what Sticht calls “unusual pens.”
“We go to some of the gun shows, so some of [them] are bolt action, lever action,” Sticht said. “We have one that’s called the revolver. The middle will turn when you click it. We do have fountain pens, and we have roller ball pens. Most of [them] are ballpoint pens, though.”
Sticht likes the community and support at the fair, despite how large it is compared to other fairs she and her husband have attended.
“I get to meet a lot of nice people, and we have a lot of repeat customers, which is nice,” she said. “If there’s only one person at a booth, and you have to get something to eat or go to the restroom, everybody always watches everybody else’s booths.
Wilkinson said the craft fair at EHS brings more exposure in comparison to other fairs because of its scale and setup.
“You guys really do a fantastic job of really getting the word out,” Wilkinson said. “It’s a [different] level of pristine. You have the kids helping out. You have people being very well taken care of as far as the food and our amenities. That’s amazing. And it all goes to a good place.”