Hillsboro craft fair draws crowd
Staff writer
Hillsboro Arts and Crafts Fair hosted its 36th annual event this past weekend, and according to fair officials, the fair just keeps getting better.
Officials and returning vendors were concerned that high gas prices and the after-effects of Hurricane Katrina would reflect in low sales and smaller than usual crowds, but that wasn't the case. The beautiful weather and draw of Hillsboro's juried arts and crafts fair brought shoppers galore.
According to Hillsboro Police Chief Dan Kinning, fair visitors numbered around 45,000. Vendors, volunteers, and fair officials all agree that the crowds seemed bigger than last year.
As far as sales, but preliminary reports show sales are expected to be the same as last year, or a little higher.
According to fair director, Christy Wulf, although the fair association doesn't profit from the sales, higher profits for the vendors will only add to the prestige of the event, and bring more and better applicants.
This year vendors began setting up at 7 p.m. Friday, an hour earlier than last year. According to Dustin Dalke, things went well with marking streets and the time change. Dalke is in charge of marking streets for the fair.
Wulf says that although she may be responsible in part for the smooth running of the fair, she couldn't do it alone.
"Volunteers and staff the day of the fair and before make the whole thing possible," said Wulf.
