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

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

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

The fair has become a beloved tradition for the local community and out-of-town visitors, drawing hundreds of attendees each year; the current Facebook page for the event suggests that over 2,000 people are interested in attending.

According to Steve Collins, who is the color guard director and in charge of advertising for the fair, the event grows each and every year.

“We have a lot of people coming from as far as Wintersville and Columbus come down to shop this fair,” said Collins, “This event has become a tradition, a go-to for Christmas shopping and for collecting unique handmade goods.”

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

The fair is packed with over 130 artisans set to display their creations. The fair offers a diverse shopping experience that brings together unique crafts, home décor, and seasonal items, providing something special for every visitor. Collins said 45 years ago the event began as a small gathering in a gym with a few local crafters and has has now grown to fill two gyms and an additional room, each space brimming with displays of handcrafted goods and gifts for everyone in the family.

Run by the Band Boosters, the concessions stand offers homemade comfort foods that provide fair-goers 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, cakes, and pies, all made by the Warren Local Band Boosters.

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

The 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 with cleanup at the end. Proceeds from the event directly support the band, funding instruments, music, uniforms, props, and travel expenses for competitions. On the evening before the fair, students help vendors unload and set up their booths, ensuring everything is ready for the fair on Saturday. Throughout the event, students will lend a hand by assisting vendors, running errands, and delivering lunch orders to booths so that vendors can stay with their displays without interruption. At the end of the day, they help with cleanup.

To meet demand, the Warren Local Band Boosters introduced a Spring Arts and Crafts Fair, now entering its ninth year. Held on the first weekend in April, the spring event offers another opportunity for community members and visitors to enjoy the vibrant craft market atmosphere.