For nearly four decades, before it became known as “Black Friday” the weekend following Thanksgiving has been an opportunity for local artists and craftsmen to show their work at Kenai Central High School. The Annual Kenai Art Guilds Craft Fair seemed to have broken all records for vendors and customers this year as vendors from across the Peninsula gathered at KCHS and shoppers came from as far away as Anchorage and Wasilla especially for the event. Joyce Cox has coordinated the event for the Guild for the last four years and told the Dispatch in an interview how and why it all got started, “We raise funds for the Kenai Fine Arts Center which does things like Artists in the Schools as well as our monthly shows that show case the tremendous talent that is here in our community. We are at capacity this year and may have to start moving out into the parking lot next year. This is the largest Craft Fair on the Peninsula and probably rivals many in Anchorage and Fairbanks,” said Cox.

There seems to be something about Alaska that brings out the artist in many who have other professions for their day jobs, from police officers to race car drivers and oil field professionals many had booths to display and market their handicrafts, “I think the combination of Alaska and the unique people that it draws here brings out the artist soul in many of us and being surrounded with such beauty inspires creativity and instills a desire to make beautiful things. Many folks come here not just to buy for the holidays, but for occasions throughout the year because these are Alaskan gifts that are kept and handed down from generation to generation and are never obsolete. A big thanks to all who came in to shop and to the artists for sharing their crafts” said Cox.