Several hundred people are expected to converge on Warren High School this weekend, looking for the perfect holiday gift item and a reprieve from the rain.
Now in its third decade, the annual Warren Band Boosters Craft Fair offers a little something for everyone and all for a good cause.
"This is our 34th year and this is our biggest fundraiser of the year," said Courtney Clark, director of bands for Warren Schools.
The event, which usually includes around 140 vendors, brings in an average of $10,000 for the boosters.
"That is about 30 percent of our annual (booster) budget," Clark said, adding that the boosters fund approximately 93 percent of the band's needs, including instrument repair, uniforms, cost of music and transportation to football games and competitions.
The band has been doing well this year, according to Clark, and they are excited by the growth and increasing interest in the program. There will be 14 seniors graduating this year but the band hopes to pick up at least 20 younger students who have shown interest.
Fact Box
If you go
What: Warren Band Boosters Craft Fair.
Where: Warren High School, 130 Warrior Drive, Vincent.
When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Admission: Age 11 to adult - $3; age 6 to 10 - $1; age 5 and under - free.
Details: 140+ vendors, country store, raffle, bake sale and concessions. Please no strollers or pets.
Band booster president Heather Sammons said many of the vendors will be local but some do travel from West Virginia, Tennessee and Maryland.
"We have a lot of local vendors who make clay pottery, primitives, jewelry, soup mixes, maple syrup ... those are just a few off the top of my head," she said. "We try to keep a wide variety of items so that people aren't seeing all the same things."
The tables are set up throughout the school, with the majority being in the gymnasium. Band members help to set up the event and serve as runners throughout the day.
"The vendors are happy to have the students help," Sammons said.
Clark added that all the boosters and students realize how important this annual event is to the success of the band program.
"It really is all hands on deck," he said.
The craft fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and parking is available at the school. Admission is $3 for ages 11 to adult, $1 for ages 6 to 10 and children 5 and under are free. Temperatures are supposed to be in the 40s, with mostly sunny skies.
Concessions are available, which will also benefit the boosters, according to the band director.
"We heard from a lot of people that they would like us to bring back the taco in a bag this year, so we did," said Clark, referring to a popular concession item.
Rounding out the day-long event will be a country store and a raffle. The prizes, which will be awarded Saturday afternoon, include four tickets to the upcoming Ohio State vs. Michigan game Nov. 24, a $500 gas card and a $250 Walmart gift card.
