By D.A. Reed, WKTV Contributing Writer
With Halloween now past, many see the holiday season upon us, and local vendors and crafters are gearing up to help holiday shoppers with their early shopping needs.
After widespread and disappointing cancellations in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, West Michigan crafters and vendors are excited to announce that they are bringing back their holiday craft shows this fall. And the month of November is filled with must-shop events that not only deliver handcrafted items, tasty treats, and unique gift ideas for local communities, but provide funds and support for many area school programs.
The Byron Center Fine Arts Boosters (BCFAB) are especially thankful to be able to host their annual craft show on Nov. 13 at Byron Center High School, as it is the largest fundraiser for their school’s fine arts programs. (For a extensive list of local craft and vendor fairs, see bottom of story.)
“All funds raised will go directly to support our students in the school district,” Kim Kohlhoff, president of Byron Center Fine Arts Boosters, said to WKTV.
All Byron Center public school fine arts programs, grades K-12, are impacted by the success of this fundraiser, Kohlhoff said, and the craft show fundraiser supplements the general budget given to each school to fund the main requirements of the fine arts programs.
“Funds raised through the annual craft show help support guest artists who come in from all over the nation to teach and perform with our students, as well as help with financial support for those students who take private lessons and attend fine arts camps,” Kohlhoff said.
The ability to provide financial support to students and give them the opportunity to perform with experienced musicians are only a small part in maintaining the Byron Center Fine Arts programs.
Life skills are also a central theme in the Byron Center Fine Arts objective — “Students learn to become a better person and grow as an individual,” said Kohlhoff.
This year’s craft show boasts over 200 vendors and something new — food trucks. Instead of the usual concessions, several food trucks will offer a variety of food for shoppers. Stationed outside next to a protected sidewalk, food truck vendors will fill food orders that shoppers can then take into the school cafeteria to eat if desired.
“We have great community support,” Kohlhoff said of the craft show. “Vendor places are highly sought after and we have several veteran (returning) vendors who come every year, often calling the day after the show has ended to apply for a spot in the show for the following year.”
The Byron Center Fine Arts Boosters Craft Show will be held on Nov. 13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Byron Center High School, 8500 Burlingame SW, and offers free parking. Admission fee is $3 at the door, with children 12 and under admitted for free.
Additional November craft and vendor events include:
Frederick Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Holiday Gift Show, Saturday, Nov. 6 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Rivertown Craft & Vendor Event FALL FEST 2021, Saturday, Nov. 13 at 10 a.m. until Sunday, Nov. 14 at 6 p.m.
The Terra Square Farmers Market Made in Michigan, Saturday Nov. 13 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Blandford Nature Center Nature Makers Market, Saturday, Nov. 13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Wyoming Holiday Craft Show, Saturday, Nov. 20 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Comstock Park High School Craft Show, Saturday, Nov. 20 during the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Wyoming Wolves Band Boosters, Saturday, Nov. 27 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The month of December also boasts craft and vendor shopping opportunities:
Northview Winter Craft Show and Santa Breakfast, Saturday, Dec. 4 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Holiday Craft and Vendor Show hosted by Woodland Mall, Saturday Dec. 4, during the hours of 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
