Rec craft fair starts Friday

By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
This is the 30th year for the Houlton Winter Crafts & Gifts Fair.
The event is traditionally held the weekend after Thanksgiving at the Gentle Memorial Building. This year, the Winter Crafts & Gifts Fair will be on Friday, Nov. 29 and Saturday, Nov. 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at the recreational center.   There will be more than 50 different crafters showing their wares. Admission is free.
“Kay Trickey was the person who invited me to the first meeting 30 years ago,” said Marie Carmichael, Houlton Parks and Recreation director. “It was intended to be a crafts fair whereby all the local churches could come and do their ‘Crafts Fairs’ under one roof. But, this did not work because each group wanted their craft fair at their church. So, we just took on local crafters and have continued since.”
A few years later, the gifts part was added to the name when some vendors showed other items, which were not homemade.
“The items were still wonderful for the Christmas season,” Carmichael added.
Among the 50 vendors, 10 will be new to the Winter Crafts & Gifts Fair. There will also be the old familiar faces that have shown their crafts through the years there, as well.
There will be a wide assortment of gifts for each member of the family.
“We usually have around 1,000 people come through over the two days,” said Carmichael. “It’s free so that is always inviting to the public.”