Yaak School Arts and Crafts Fair July 6
Jimmy Jones brought a table full of painstakingly detailed metal insects and arachnids to the Yaak School Arts and Crafts Fair on June 30, 2018. Jones said his main business is the wood burning stoves he also had for sale, but that he enjoys making the art — which began as a way to use scrap metal — much more than the stoves. (Ben Kibbey/The Western News)
The “Bone Phone” art piece donated by Colin Breen for silent auction during the sixth annual Yaak School Arts and Crafts Fair Saturday, June 30, 2018. (Ben Kibbey/The Western News)
The Yaak School Arts and Crafts Fair is returning this year with many of the familiar vendors and activities, and a few more to boot.
The fair will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 6.
Sandy Beder-Miller said games for children will begin around noon, with a fishing game and squirt guns to amuse the young ones if it gets hot.
Other activities will include cookie decorating, face painting and lawn games.
The school’s new teacher, Sabre Alderete will also be there to get acquainted with the community, Beder-Miller said. She will have a table set up, and the announcement for the fair also invites community members to come and check out the school’s new curriculum.
In addition to the many vendors, there will also be community educational engagement, with opportunities to learn about Firewise, and there will be a Yaak Volunteer Fire Department truck for families to check out.
Beder-Miller said part of the intent is to let community members know what resources are available in the Yaak.
Beder-Miller said there will be tours on request for anyone who wants to look through the school.
“One of the main goals is not just to raise money, but as an outreach to the community,” she said. Many community members through the years have been integral to the school, sharing their particular skills and knowledge with the children.
She said they are always interested in having community members volunteer with the school.
One recent volunteer taught the children how to read music, and some of the older children — the school only goes to eighth grade — wrote their own song, which they performed at the school’s end of year program, Beder-Miller said.
“That’s an example of what a volunteer can do,” she said.
This year, the Coffee Shack will be taking special coffee orders at the fair, and delivering them on site, she said. The special service will be available from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Cabinet Mountain Catering will once again be serving lunch items and drinks from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Beder-Miller said they will be serving from their full menu this year.
In addition, vendors — who pay a flat fee for their booth but aren’t required to share a portion of their sales — will be providing items such as fresh breads, ceramics and other crafted items for the silent auction.