A community tradition returns Saturday, Nov. 7 and although this family favorite event will be presented in a slightly different form this year, the heart and spirit of this philanthropic art gathering remain the same.
Brooksville’s Annual Fall Craft Fair 2020 will be celebrated Saturday, November 7, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Hosted by Brooksville Pumpkin Patch, this year’s Craft Fair will be conducted at Christ Lutheran Church, 475 North Ave. W, Brooksville.
Now in its fourth year, the craft fair–usually celebrated at the Brooksville Pumpkin Patch–has been relocated in the interest of social distancing concerns.
“This location will give everybody more elbow room,” explained Jessica Longoria, Brooksville Pumpkin Patch owner and chairperson of the Christ Lutheran Church mission board. “It’s more comfortable.”
The church setting is also relevant to the beneficiary of this year’s event: Zion Lutheran Church in Tampa.
“Zion Lutheran Church is the great-grandma church of Christ Lutheran Church,” Longoria explained. “The church administrators want Zion to be registered as a historical building.”
Founded in 1893, Zion is acknowledged on the church Facebook page as being the parent institution for about seven churches throughout Tampa. A stately, tall brick structure that brims from within with stained glass windows, chandeliers, statues, and polished woods; the classically designed church is in need of refurbishment.
“They have need of work, clean up, and repairs to their historic building,” said Longoria. “We want to help them.”
The craft fair, which last year netted more than $2,000 to aid a local boy dealing with cleft palate, boasts an impressive history of its own.
“We like to feature local crafters as much as possible. It’s a good, nice family environment where we raise money for those in need,” said Longoria.
No entry or parking fees will be charged for this event, which will feature about 80 vendors representing various facets of the crafting arts.
Quilting. Sewing. Vinyl and glitter art. Paper floral art. Embroidery. Crafts. Handcrafted signs and wall arts. Fashion art. Gift items. Dolls and stuffed animals. Furniture art. Beadwork.
And true to the event’s philanthropic spirit, the fair will feature a CLC Sound System Quilt Raffle.
“The ladies at our church will be hosting a raffle to purchase a sound system for our online services at Christ Lutheran Church,” said Longoria.
Other forms of art will be up for offer at the fair, ranging from fresh foods to books, handmade soaps to metalworks, totes to scents, spa to medicinal products.
“Each craft I see at the fair,” said Longoria, “is a form of art.”
And by donating proceeds to benefit worthy causes, she believes that participating vendors have mastered the art of giving.
“This is a wonderful group of people,” she said.
