Shoppers browse wares from 87 vendors at the Vinemont Band Booster Craft Show Friday at the Cullman Civic Center. The show continues Saturday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. (Christy Perry for The Cullman Tribune)
CULLMAN – The annual Vinemont Band Booster Craft Show kicked off Friday at the Cullman Civic Center and will continue Saturday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. with a wide variety of arts, crafts, baked goods and other items from 87 vendors set up throughout the building.
Vinemont Eagle Band members and boosters have a concession area as well as door prizes donated by vendors. Raffle tickets, each $1, are being sold at the entrance for the $1,000 grand prize drawing taking place at noon on Saturday.
Miranda Reeves, show coordinator, said Friday, “This is the band program’s main fundraiser for the year. All proceeds will go to the band. The band boosters have put in a lot of effort into this year’s show. It takes a lot of putting in to get a lot out. We couldn’t do this without the band members, the school administrators, the band boosters and all the vendors. We want to also thank Jack’s on West Main for donating the biscuits today and tomorrow morning.”
The civic center is full of unique items from many talented vendors. Handmade soy candles, hand-painted home decor, personalized Christmas ornaments and gifts, crocheted hats and accessories, wood crafts, and locally-produced baked goods are just a few of the many things available at the craft show.
Tim and Kathy Echols came from Falkville to take part in the show.
Said Kathy Echols, “We have a granddaughter in the band and a daughter who works at the school. This is our first show. The Vinemont band is great, and this event helps support them.”
The Echols grow gourds and make whimsical crafts from what they grow. Tim Echols hand paints the gourds to create ornaments.
“I’m more of the crafty one,” Kathy Echols smiled.
Arlon Baker from Hanceville is selling his handcrafted knife handles, tongue drums, keepsake boxes and more. Weather and Rustic Designs from Boaz also has handcrafted wood furniture. Local wood turner Jarrod Smitherman has a table of unique wood items from his Woodchuck Turning Studio. (www.cullmantribune.com/articles/2018/11/04/10-things-tribune-tastemaker-jarrod-smitherman)
Sisters Betty Jones, Vida Harbison, and Louise White make crocheted items year round to sell at the craft show.
Jones said, “Today has been good and we expect tomorrow will be even busier.”
Harry Hames has hand-crafted metal and jewelry made by young people in Haiti. “Harry’s Kids” is a charitable program to assist people in Haiti where unemployment has remained at 80 percent since the powerful earthquake that crippled the island in 2010.
Hames explained, “Through missionary work we are teaching the young people skills to make goods to be sold rather than just giving handouts. We will be going back to Haiti in December with new backpacks and other items for Christmas. These missions are an effort by many area churches of all denominations.”
Most vendors are able to process credit/debit cards and an ATM is available near the concession area.
Copyright 2018 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
