Benton to host annual craft fair

With the smell of kettle corn and freshly baked cinnamon rolls in the air, it's not difficult to imagine visitors of the annual Benton, Missouri, craft fair stay for the long haul.

This year marks St. Denis' 15th annual "Winter Wonderland of Treasures" craft fair, and according to organizer Judy Scherer, there's nothing like it.

"It's all quality work," Scherer said. "Most people don't know anything about crafting, and they don't know how much hard work goes into it."

In addition to crafts, the parish also supplies food for the event, which Scherer calls "legendary."

Until you've been to a chicken dinner hosted by the parish, you can't fully understand how good the food is, she said. This year, the ladies of St. Denis will be serving a variety of breakfast items, chicken noodle soup, chili and many desserts. And most importantly, the cinnamon rolls.

This year's fair will be from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 6 at St. Denis' Parish Center off U.S. 61 in Benton, with 65 vendors selling wares.

Scherer said she gets calls all year long from vendors wanting to set up at the show, and if she had the space, she would take them all. But with 200 willing vendors and only 65 spaces available, they scramble to sign up early.

Scherer has been crafting for more than 35 years. She and a team of 10 women sew quilts all year long -- hundreds of them -- and 45 of the best come to the Benton craft fair. Shoppers also can buy types of woodworking, Barbie doll clothes and furniture, baby crafts, different scarves and jewelry, floral pieces, scented items, antiques and more.

The youngest vendors are 13 years old, Scherer said, and this is their fifth year.

Admission is free, and throughout the day there will be a 50/50 drawing, among others. Scherer said most prizes are donated, and in years past, vendors contributed things such as handmade wooden rocking chairs that were being sold for $200.

Scherer encourages everyone to attend, as the event is sure to be "the biggest thing in Benton."

smaue@semissourian.com

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