close
close

Warren Local Band’s 45th Annual Fall Arts and Crafts Fair: A Beloved Community Tradition | News, Sports, Jobs

Warren Local Band’s 45th Annual Fall Arts and Crafts Fair: A Beloved Community Tradition | News, Sports, Jobs

(File Photo) Susan’s Saw Scenes was among 130 vendors who filled the Warren High School and Middle School gym and cafeteria during the 44th annual Warren Band Boosters Arts and Crafts Fair in 2023.

VINCENT — The Warren Local Band Boosters are preparing to host their 45th Annual Fall Arts and Crafts Fair at Warren High School on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students and seniors, and free for children 5 and under.

The fair has become a beloved tradition for locals and out-of-town visitors, attracting hundreds of attendees each year; The event’s current Facebook page shows more than 2,000 people are interested in attending.

The event is growing every year, according to Steve Collins, the fair’s color guard director and head of advertising.

“There are a lot of people from Wintersville and Columbus who come to this fair to shop.” said Collins. “This event has become a tradition, a go-to place for Christmas shopping and collecting unique, handmade items.”

(File Photo) Cayden Frontera, 6, gets his face painted by Valerie Gustafson of Happy Face Paint during the 43rd Annual Band Booster Arts and Crafts Fair held at Warren Middle School and Warren High School in 2022.

The fair is filled with more than 130 artisans displaying their creations. The fair offers a diverse shopping experience that brings together unique crafts, home decor and seasonal products, offering something special for every visitor. The event began 45 years ago as a small gathering of a few local artisans in a gym and has now grown to fill two gyms and an additional room, with each space filled with handmade items and gifts for everyone in the family, Collins said.

Managed by Band Boosters, the concession stand offers homemade comfort food that provides fairgoers with a welcome break from browsing and shopping. Menu items include chicken and noodles, hot dogs and taco salads, while the dessert table is filled to the brim with homemade cookies, brownies and pies, all made by Warren Local Band Boosters.

“A lot of people bring friends or meet up with friends and family, they’ll shop, then they’ll go to the buffet… They’ll sit down and eat… and then they’ll go back there and start. “some more shopping” said Collins.

Students and parents of the Warren Local Band program play a key role in organizing and running the fair. Band students assist vendors by unloading and setting up booths on Friday night, running errands throughout the day, and helping clean up at the end. Proceeds from the event directly support the band, funding instruments, music, uniforms, props and travel expenses for competitions. The evening before the fair, students help vendors clear and set up their booths and ensure everything is ready for the fair on Saturday. Throughout the event, students will help vendors stay in their exhibits uninterrupted by assisting vendors, running errands, and delivering lunch orders to booths. They help clean up at the end of the day.

To meet demand, the Warren Local Band Boosters launched the Spring Arts and Crafts Fair, now in its ninth year. The spring event, held the first weekend in April, offers community members and visitors another opportunity to enjoy the lively craft market atmosphere.