The Quilcene Holiday Craft Fair was slightly more sparsely attended this year, due to the Quilcene football team playing in the state semifinals in Wenatchee, but it still kept the community center bustling.
“If I wasn’t here, I’d be there (in Wenatchee),” said the Santa Claus at the Quilcene Community Center on Nov. 24.
His sleigh had no line because any children wanting photos with him could just hop in without waiting.
Holiday shoppers such as Debbie Nasser and her mom, Sharone Norwood, browsed the wares of vendors such as Jennie Reynolds, whose table included an assortment of jewelry, ornaments, and hand-crocheted scarves, gloves and potholders.
The Holiday Craft Fair also saw the return of Linda Maden, who’d shopped there the previous weekend at the Country Christmas event, this time appearing as a crafter herself.
Maden had an entire village of miniature houses on her table, each fashioned from colored paper and a small amount of wood.
“It takes me about two hours to make each one,” Maden said. “I don’t have any plans worked up beforehand. I just see what I can come up with. I suppose I like the churches the best.”
The Spears brothers of Boy Scout Troop 1861, serving Quilcene and Brinnon, were on hand to sell their wreaths, and while their fundraiser for scouting programs was still drawing customers, the boys shared Santa’s opinion that foot traffic to the Holiday Crafts Fair was slightly less this year, due to the game in Wenatchee.
“Last year, we’d sold our big Seahawks wreath before the fair had even started,” said Joseph Spears, who noted the Scouts started this year’s fair with about 60 wreaths to sell.
Levi Spears said the wreath sales help send the Scouts to summer camp, which can cost between $300 to $350 per person, and it also covers the costs of trips across the state.
“We’ve been as far as Leavenworth and Ozette,” said Timothy Spears of the troop, which also includes Christian Barney and Ronald Hough.
Those who missed Boy Scout Troop 1861 at the Quilcene Holiday Craft Fair can still buy their wreaths at the Brinnon Christmas Craft Fair on Dec. 1 and Dec. 8.
