As the holiday season approaches — almost as quickly as the snow — a variety of craft fairs and bazaars selling wares from local businesses and craftspeople will be offered each weekend in November and beyond for holiday shopping and cheer. Dedicated shoppers will have as many as three craft fairs to check out each week.
Starting this weekend, the What Women Want Shopping Expo & Fall Fair will be held at Soldotna High School Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is a fundraiser for SoHi’s girls basketball team. There will be vendors run by local businesses in clothing, decor, food, crafts and jewelry, demonstrations, a gift wrapping station, and a kid zone inside the gym with games and supervision.
Next week, the Sterling Senior Center will hold its annual Holiday Craft Fair Nov. 11-12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Handcrafted items and decor will be sold, food will be available and there will be a professional photographer running a booth.
The Kenai Senior Center will hold the Vintage Collectibles and Homemade Crafts Show on Nov. 12 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will be vendor tables, a bake sale, a snack bar and more. Seniors looking to run a vendor table can call 283-4156.
The SoHi Craft Fair, at Soldotna High School, will run Nov. 12 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., supporting SoHi football. The fair will include homemade crafts, Christmas gifts, antique and vintage items and more.
The week after that, a Holiday Craft Fair and Bazaar will be held Nov. 18 and 19 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Sterling Senior Center by the Kenai Peninsula Tugi II Unit, with proceeds going to the Shriners Hospital Children’s Burn Center. There will be professional and private vendors.
The Soldotna Regional Sports Complex will host the 31st annual Holiday Bazaar Nov. 18-20. Vendors can pick up an application at the building or call 714-1214 to apply.
The weekend of Thanksgiving, Kenai Art Center will host the Annual Kenai Arts & Crafts Fair, Nov. 25 and 26, with local crafts and artwork on offer at Kenai Central High School. The fair, which spreads through the auditorium commons, into the school and into the gym, will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.
The Yo! Black Friday Christmas Bazaar, hosted by Yo Taco, will be held at Peninsula Center Mall on Nov. 25 and 26. The event will run 10 a.m.-6 p.m. both days, and will feature vendors, food, and fun, according to their release.
The Third Annual Holiday Cheer Christmas Bazaar, hosted by the Soldotna Wednesday Market, will be held for three weekends, Nov. 25-27, Dec. 2-4 and Dec. 9-11 at the Old Carrs Mall in Kenai.
Reaching into early December, Christmas Comes to Nikiski, hosted by North Peninsula Recreation Service Area, will be held at the Nikiski Community Recreation Center on Dec. 3. There will be a craft fair, kids activities, a bonfire and more. Vendors can register until Nov. 21. For more information, call 776-8800.
Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.
