Crowds Flock to Salem’s Arts and Crafts Fair
Another successful Salem Arts & Craft Fair is in the books!
The 2023 Arts and Crafts Fair on November 4 was well attended, bringing out even more shoppers than the 2022 event which was off the charts for attendance!
Shoppers browsed through a wide variety of items from over 100 artists and crafters, 80% of which were returning vendors.
Organizer Mary Jacobson says artists and crafters were happy with the sales and the crowds.
Jacobson said it was fun to see all the family units—daughters, moms, grandmas—comparing their purchases and making a day of the event by shopping, having lunch at the Cafe, and then shopping again.
The Cafe was a popular place for buyers, selling out of everything except hot dogs, water bottles, and some sodas.
Proceeds from the Cafe and money raised from the baked sale totaled $2,088, going to support the Salem Youth Group.
Youth Ministry Assistant Sue Pederson said Cafe guests really liked the reasonable prices, food offered, especially the soup, and being able to sit down and spend time with the friends they came with.
The special connections made were something that Jacobson witnessed too.
“When I was walking around the event, it was so much fun to hear all the talk, laughter, and to see people connecting. Lots of hugging going on,” Jacobson said. “How many craft fairs can say that?”
Jacobson says she is blessed by the commitment of “Team Craft Fair” that makes this event happen each year, especially Theresa Ljung, Salem Youth and Young Adult Director Shelli Streeper, and Sue Pederson.
