Cape gets crafty

Cape Girardeau will become a regular craft show-palooza this weekend when it hosts arts and crafts shows offering gifts for the holidays and other occasions.

One destination for visitors will be the Christmas Arts and Crafts Extravaganza, sponsored by the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri for the past 43 years. According to Murielle Gaither, director of the arts council, there will be more than 300 vendors at its two locations at the Show Me Center and Osage Centre.

"We're filled to capacity with vendors," Gaither said. "It's fantastic to have had vendors lining up to get a spot in the shows. Last year we had 14,000 visitors come through both of our sites. We're expecting the same, if not more, this year if the weather is good."

Gaither said the arts council's crafts show is a great way to kick off the Christmas shopping season, and a place to find gifts for the person who has everything.

"There's going to be plenty of Christmas items," she said. "There will be homemade Christmas candies, fresh roasted nuts and fudge along with home enhancing decor like sculptures and handmade pottery. The items are too numerous to mention, but people should know that everything is homemade. The quality is astounding and there's no repetition in what's being offered."

The Crafts, Gifts and Collectibles Show at Bavarian Halle near Fruitland in 2008 raised funds for the Notre Dame Regional High School Visual and Performing Arts Program, Operation Freedom Soldier Christmas packages, Toys for Tots and Christmas for the Elderly. (Southeast Missourian file)

Gaither said the extravaganza will also include its share of uncommon items.

"We even have a vendor who has made lamps out of old fishing rods," she said. "You'll be able to find a lot of things here that you won't anywhere else."

The Christmas Arts and Crafts Extravaganza will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at both locations. Admission is $5 for Saturday and Sunday and $3 for Sunday only.

Another durable Cape Girardeau craft show is the 38th annual River Valley Craft Fair at the Arena Building and the 4-H building in Arena Park. The River Valley Craft Club hosts this show, and about 250 vendors are expected to set up in the two buildings this year.

"We're excited," said Rick Werner, coordinator of River Valley's craft show. "We haven't been this full of vendors in 10 years."

Tim Brennan of O’Fallon, Mo., paints a tissue box while working in his booth Nov. 17, 2007, at the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri Crafts Fair at the Show Me Center. (Southeast Missourian file)

Werner said that last year the craft show drew about 4,000 people to Arena Park.

"We'll be ready for that number again," he said. "It's unreal the amount of items that vendors will have."

Werner said the show will also include a non-craft area, where items by The Pampered Chef and home accessories will be offered.

"We're going to be presenting a lot of unique items," he said. "We expect to have a very busy weekend."

The River Valley Craft Fair runs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $5 for Saturday and Sunday and $3 for Sunday only.

A craft show in its 18th year, the Crafts, Gifts and Collectibles Show, will be held at Notre Dame Regional High School.

"Visitors will see a lot of stuff for Christmas and also unique items," said Tony Buehrle, Notre Dame Regional High School's director of development. "We had about 4,000 people come through the show last year. Everybody comes to town for the craft shows."

About 100 vendors are expected to be showing their wares in Notre Dame's multipurpose room over the weekend.

"We sold out early with vendors," Buehrle said. "There's going to be lots of real craft and gift ideas. We'll also have collectibles that you can add to existing collections, like gnomes and houses."

Buehrle said Notre Dame students will also have a vending booth at the craft show.

"They'll have crafts with ceramics," he said. "The ceramics will be of different molds and have decorations of Christmas scenes and towns."

The craft show will open Friday night, and proceeds will benefit the Notre Dame Performing and Visual Arts Program and other causes.

"We're looking to help fund our arts program," Buehrle said, "but we'll also donate to Toys for Tots, Toybox and Christmas for the Elderly. We're also looking at sending soldier packages to our troops."

The Crafts, Gifts, and Collectibles show runs from 5 to 9 p.m. today, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $1 Friday and Saturday. Sunday is free admission.

According to Chuck Martin of the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau, the economic effect of the craft shows is hard to determine.

"It's next to impossible to track," Martin said. "But the fact is, people are coming to the arts and crafts shows and over 10,000 people attend the shows each year. It's obvious they're a draw for the community."

Martin said some visitors to the craft shows will likely stay overnight in hotels and purchase their lunch and gas locally.

"They may also perhaps do more traditional shopping at Cape stores," he said. "They'll spend money for a variety of reasons. That's always a plus."

klewis@semissourian.com

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