Woodbury Junior Women’s Club Christmas Craft Fair Celebrates Milestone

The Woodbury Junior Women’s Club is celebrating the 30^th year for their Christmas Craft Fair and Boutique to be held on Saturday, December 6th. It is held at the Woodbury Middle School from 9:30am to 3:30pm.

The fair has become a major event in the community. It features over forty exhibitors displaying their handiwork to assist everyone in their holiday shopping. The admission price is a donation to benefit the Woodbury Junior Women’s Scholarship Fund.

The Woodbury Juniors decided to start the fair in 1985. According to Norma Heaven current Chair of the event “I am sure it was started as a fundraiser. Nancy Pierpoint and Marylou Werner started the Christmas Festival in 1985 as a town wide event with the Craft Fair being part of it . Each year was marked with a new ornament.” The fair had humble beginnings, “it was held in the cafeteria at the middle school and hallways for many years.” It is now grown and is held in the gym.

Many locals have been collecting the Woodbury Pewter Ornaments sold yearly by the Juniors at the fair. Cynthia Gillette comes up with the design or the Junior Women have an idea and she will design it for them. The ornament for this year will be sold for $10 at the Craft Fair, Canfield Corner Pharmacy, Woodbury Pewter and the Woodbury town clerk’s office.

Ms. Heavens hopes to grow the fair in the coming years. Her major goal is to bring in new vendors in addition to the wonderful vendors they have had over the years. As for what makes this craft fair different and sets it apart from others happening throughout the season, “We have a variety of items from jams to chocolates, jewelry to photographs, hand-painted wood decor to crocheted scarves. Some of the vendors have been in it for years. We are known for the quality of the vendors.”

When asked what gives Ms. Heavens the drive to take on this large project every year, her answer is clear, “I have been doing this for so long and it is part of the Town Wide Christmas Festival which most of the community participates. It is also a lot of fun (sometimes not). It is also the largest fundraiser that the club does at this point and most of our members work at this event and it is very social.”

In conjunction with the craft fair, children will be able to visit Santa and tell him what they truly want to receive this Christmas. The Junior Women have contacted the "Jolly Old Elf" and estimate Santa's arrival for 1pm. Make sure to bring your camera! Remember, due to his lengthy flight back to the North Pole and his appointment to light the town of Woodbury's Christmas tree; Santa will only be available until 3:30. At that time he will be whisked away via fire truck! Refreshments will be served.

Additionally, always a crowd pleaser is the Festival of Wreaths. Businesses and individuals in the community decorate a wreath for a silent auction. Proceeds of the auction benefit the Woodbury Community Services Food and Fuel Bank. The wreath viewing and bidding takes place from 9:30-2:30.