November 27, 2023 3:30 a.m.  

Douglas County government is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Christmas Craft Fair this Friday through Sunday.

A County release said the event started with humble beginnings in 1973 in the old Community Conference Hall at the fairgrounds. About 50 local vendors took part. Since then it has grown to the largest event of its kind in the county and is considered to be the biggest and most popular Christmas fair in southern Oregon. Each year, 12-13,000 people make their way to the fairgrounds to peruse over 300 booths of hand-crafted items, including Christmas ornaments, holiday decorations and signs, clothing, home décor, baked goods, wood crafts, metal sculptures, paintings, ceramics and much more. The fair is proud of its history in promoting local artisans by only allowing hand-crafted items and not permitting commercially produced items.

The release said that the event is so popular that for several years, booth spaces have been sold out. This year there were 151 people on the waiting list hoping to garner a much-coveted booth space. Some vendors have had a booth for decades, with one vendor being there every year since the event began.

Hours for the Christmas Craft Fair are Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Santa will be at the event on Friday from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Admission is $5 for adults. Kids age 12 and under get in for free. The event is helping to stock local food pantries and provide pajamas for local foster care kids by accepting donations at the door. Those donating canned food will get a $1 discount.

For more information on the 50th annual Christmas Craft Fair, go to: www.douglasfairgrounds.com.