CARIBOU, Maine — For the 45th year, the Caribou Arts and Craft Fair was held at Caribou High School on Oct 20 and 21. In charge of the fair for the City of Caribou, Christina Kane-Gibson said the fair went quite well this year.
“It’s like a well-oiled machine,” said Kane-Gibson, explaining that many of the vendors have been selling at the arts and craft fair for years and know exactly what to do.
The event attracts 130 vendors every year.
“We’re one of the more popular ones, said Kane-Gibson.
Sheila Belanger sells a variety of crocheted crafts during the Caribou Arts and Craft Fair at Caribou High School on Saturday, Oct 20.
(Courtesy of John O’Meara)
Deena Albert Parks of Chops Ahoy farm in Woodland was on hand with her husband Barrett and their three children selling pork, vegetables and other products from their farm.
“It’s kind of my end of the year clean out the farm sale,” said Albert Parks, adding that the fair was particularly busy on Saturday. “It was wall to wall people.”
Albert Parks said one of the reasons the fair is successful is because of the wide variety of arts and crafts for sale. “You name it and it’s here.”
Several tables displayed sweaters and scarves and other crocheted and knitted items.
Sheila Belanger had a variety of crocheted crafts, which she said had been selling quite well. Belanger, who has been going to the arts and craft fair for seven or eight years, related her love of crocheting back to growing up on a farm where her grandmother had many crafting skills.
“She could do anything,” Belanger said.
Although business was good this weekend — especially on Saturday — Belanger stated that no one item sold better than others. “I’ve sold a little bit of everything.”
Lorie Smith of Mustard Seed Art agreed that business had been good at this year’s arts and craft fair.
“I’ve sold 35 pieces this weekend,” said Smith, a native of Presque Isle, who now resides in New Brunswick but often sells her paintings on this side of the border.
For this weekend, Mustard Seed Art’s offerings were comprised of watercolors. Explaining that she had been painting for 50 years, Smith related how she had switched from oil painting to watercolors just recently when her son had given her a set of watercolors to paint with. The paintings on display this weekend featured many with a local or farm scene, including one of the longest covered bridge in the world, which is located in Hartland, New Brunswick.
Deena Albert Parks, Barret Parks and their children Oakley, Oliver, and Timber participate in the Caribou Arts and Craft Fair at Caribou High School over the weekend. Deena Albert Parks of Chops Ahoy farm in Woodland sold pork, vegetables and other products from their farm.
(Courtesy of John O’Meara)
Of working in watercolors, Smith said,“It kind of reignited my passion for art.”
The caribou Arts and Craft Fair was a busy event this year and Christina Kane-Gibson expects it to be busy again next year. She said that the 130 vendor slots usually fill up by the middle of November the previous year.
