New festival is on a mission

The Fall Craft Fair and RibFest making its debut on Saturday, Nov. 1, has all the bells and briskets: local and regional craft vendors galore, fair food, raffles, games and prizes for all ages, plus a RibFest of succulent meats prepared on site.

But this fun-packed family event is also on a mission. With decades of collective experience behind them in raising funds at fun events, organizers combined the best of both to create a family-friendly day structured to benefit the local community.

To begin with, no admittance fee is required but a freewill donation or a gently used or new coat for Coats for Kids will be welcome. Each $50 vendor booth fee goes directly to Carroll County charity programs such as Angel Tree, Shop with a Cop and others, as do the profits from RibFest plates, beverages and desserts.

Sponsored by Women for Christ of First Christian Church, Craft Fair organizer Reta Beherns and outreach coordinator Evelyn Eidson are quick to emphasize that this is not a membership drive or fundraiser for their church.

“This is a completely secular event to raise funds for the charities that already exist to serve Carroll County,” Eidson said. “There are entities that do everything from helping pay prescription costs or utility bills to distributing and/or serving food, running free clothing closets, providing health care, and offering many other programs that serve those in the community that need a hand up; so why reinvent the wheel?

“Our mission is not to start another charity organization, but to raise funds to help support those that are already in place and have been proven to work,” she added.

Behrens has some 20 years of experience as a crafter and vendor at shows of all sizes, and has developed a good eye for the best and most unusual items on offer. She’s been busy scouting for months while developing this new event, a dream years in the making, and has invited some favorite vendors from around the region to participate in the first Fall Craft Fair.

“Anyone who missed the popular ‘root beer maker’ when he ran out of product during the Ice Cream Social this summer will be glad to know he’ll be with us on November first,” Behrens announced.

That root beer will surely entice when the RibFest barbecue aroma makes mouths water. Plate dinners will be for sale beginning around noon, and there will be indoor seating where drinks and desserts will also be available for purchase – again, to benefit community charities.

“This is a chance for craft vendors to offer the rest of their fall lines and switch over to the Christmas season while the weather is still good for an outdoor event,” Behrens said. “They benefit from the opportunity, and we ask no percentage from sales, so they keep all their earnings, and we benefit from having a good selection in plenty of time for the holidays. And the best part is that our community charities benefit from a boost of cash to aid in their work helping others.”

Everybody wins.

“Our church has been blessed with a building and grounds large enough to host events like this, outdoors and in,” Eidson said. “Our congregation has enough members with a love for the community we live in who have the time and desire to do something to help, and we’re excited about what this fair can accomplish.”

The Fall Craft Fair and RibFest will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1 on the grounds of First Christian Church at 736 Passion Play Road. Barbecue rib plates will be available for purchase around noon. For vendor information, call Reta, (870) 480-7738. For RibFest information, phone (479) 253-8015.

A writing attributed to St. Teresa of Avila reads in part, “Christ has no body but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good, yours are the hands with which he blesses all the world.”

Something to think about on All Saints Day, November 1… while you’re blessing others just by having fun and shopping with friends and family at the Fall Craft Fair and RibFest!