The George G. Blaisdell Elementary School PTO Fall Vendor/Craft Fair will welcome new and old faces for the event the first week of November.
Organizers said the fair is slated to be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 5.
Tina Clouser, PTO president, explained that she is still receiving applications this week, so the total number of vendors is still fluid. However, Clouser has a few new vendors that will be exciting additions, and there are many vendors who have been coming to the vendor fair for the three years she has been organizing it, guaranteeing a crowd of interested visitors.
“We usually have tons of vendors, and they come in to set up Friday night,” Clouser said. “Sometimes we have people come in then hoping to purchase items.”
Many familiar faces have been attending the vendor fair each year. Those vendors include Margie Harris, who sells Tupperware, Robbie Yonushonis with Tastefully Simple, Lucy Nuzzo with Thirty-One and Penny Updegrove with Avon.
Local artisans will also show off their handmade items, including Carol Vecellio with crocheted items, Denise Dibble with handmade soaps, balms and body butter, Sandy Lindy with crocheted and sewn items, Jeanette O’Rourke with crocheted necklaces, knitted scarves and handmade wood crafts, and Nikki Taylor with hand-printed canvases.
Bryan Scrivo of Bryz Designs is a popular vendor who has been at the fair before. He offers woodwork crafts and country rustic décor. Other vendors with similar home décor items will include Laree Sue Kirk of Unique and Rustique Designs, with homemade wooden and country décor, Ben Bartlein with decorated ladders, wine bottles and birdhouses, and Marty Cummins with Christmas wreaths, Christmas décor and snowmen. Dru Cary is also slated to be on hand to sell stuffed animals to benefit the American Diabetes Association.
“Bryz Designs is very popular, and all of our regulars draw a good crowd to the event,” Clouser explained. “The first year we set this up, it got very crowded. We had to expand it so now vendors set up in the gym, the hallway and the cafeteria.”
Clouser said several new vendors have been in touch with organizers to attend this year’s event. A growing trend in the area is the sale of Lularoe, a line of clothing with various unique prints and materials for leggings, dresses, skirts and tops for women, teens and young girls. There are also some lines of clothing for men. Two consultants for this company, Jennifer Kitell and Kelly Martin, will be on hand with their merchandise. Each vendor typically has unique inventory.
Some of the new vendors this year also include Flynn’s Pet Tracking Service of Bradford, named for 3-year-old German Shepard “Flynn,” who has been trained for pet tracking through various terrains and environments. An appearance by the trainer from Phillips Command Dogs of Olean, N.Y., is also possible.
A representative of Curves will also be on hand, while new items for sale will include rock candy, chocolate and fudge sold by Silvia Prentiss and clothes for Barbies or 18-inch dolls like American Girl sold by Lynett Sluga.
The McKean County SPCA, which was present at last year’s vendor fair, is scheduled to be present again this year as well.
The PTO plans to sell hot dogs, sloppy joes, coffee, water, soda and huggies. Clouser noted that last year Bisett Just Ask Rental donated the use of a hot dog machine, which she hopes will be a possibility again this year.
In addition to a fee for tables at the event, the PTO earns money through food sales and ticket sales for a Chinese auction, to which each vendor that attends contributes one item. There will also be a 50/50 giveaway.
Any vendors who wish to be part of this continually growing and very popular event should contact Clouser at gramatina@hotmail.com, as applications are still being accepted.
