Organizers of the 38th Annual Carter County Arts and Crafts Festival and Food Fair are gearing up for the event which is scheduled for Nov. 13 and 14 at Hardy Murphy Coliseum.
Doors will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free, and parking is $2. Those who attend can register to win door prizes.
The two-day event, which is sponsored by the Carter County Association for Home and Community Education, typically draws thousands of people. Publicity chairperson Kaye Seeliger said the crafts show is a fundraiser for her organization which uses the money it makes to help support the county’s 4-H programs. She has been involved in the event since the very beginning.
“We started with 17 booths at the beginning of the arts and crafts craze,” she said. “Everything was in the south wing of Hardy Murphy Coliseum.”
This year 225 booths will be set up in all three wings of the coliseum as well as in the indoor arena. Carter County HCE will have its food concession booth with stew and corn bread and a variety of homemade pies again this year. Seven other food booths will offer all sorts of specialities. The association will also be selling its popular cookbook, “Our Favorite Recipes,” at the bargain price of two for $15.
Seeliger said crafts vendors are coming from 40 Oklahoma cities and several surrounding states. A number of booth spaces were reserved by local residents who have participated in the show for a number of years.
“Almost every kind of quality art and craft is featured including holiday specialties, hand-crafted jewelry, stained glass, folk art, porcelain dolls, unfinished wood furniture, decorated sweatshirts, pottery and much, much more,” she said.
More than 100 Carter County HCE members will volunteer during the show. Festival committee members include Seeliger, Barbara Swindell, Leasa Chandler, Jean Page, Angie Rowe, Phyllis Turner, Rita Supan and Janice Curtis.
All the booth spaces have been rented for this year. Anyone interested in reserving a space for next year or who would like to be put on the waiting list for this year’s event should contact Chandler at (580) 226-3987 or Page at (580) 223-8485.
Seeliger said southern Oklahoma residents look forward to the arts and crafts show every year, and many families attend together looking for Christmas gifts and holiday ideas.
“Please come to the festival and see what’s new in the world of arts and crafts,” she said.
Steve Biehn, 221-6546
