Hot Springs Arts & Craft Fair is in 49th year

The Hot Springs Arts and Crafts Fair is in its 49th year. Hours of operation will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at Garland County Fairground, 4831 Malvern Road. It is sponsored by the Garland County Extension Homemakers. Vendors showing this year come from 11 states.

The EHC Kitchen will be open all three days. They will serve homemade chili, donuts, oatmeal, chocolate cake, hamburgers, chicken salad, hot dogs, and bean and cornbread dinners. The building is air conditioned for the eaters’ comfort.

There will be seven buildings, a goat barn, swine barn and arena. There will be concession stands located around the grounds featuring barbecue, roasted corn, chicken on a stick, funnel cakes, kettle corn, Mexican food, corn dogs, nuts, peanut brittle, roasted peanuts, Cajun food, chocolates, lemonade, fried pies, honey and more.

Some of the crafts scheduled are stainless steel rings, copper jewelry, candles, handmade lip balm, soap, lotion, embroidered and sparkle T-shirts, pottery, bird houses, stuffed animals, doll clothes, knit hats, scarfs, purses, gourds, hair bows, photography, quilts, dough ornaments, cigar box guitars, bamboo plant hangars, painted wood custom signs, wooden spoons, dinner bells, pin and ink drawings, crochet, cloth and leather purses, wood furniture, dog wear, herb oils, wooden bowls, personalized books, log cabin crafts, framed and painted turkey feathers, ladies clothing, greeting cards and more.

Parking is free. Golf taxis will be on hand to take shoppers from the parking area to the front of the grounds, and when finished, they will be available to take them and their purchases back to the car. Wheelchairs and strollers will be on hand for the visitors’ convenience at no charge.

For the children, there will be a play area at the front of the grounds that will have a bouncy house, slide and more. A petting zoo and pony rides will be waiting for them.

Sunday afternoon, a gospel group will perform for two hours. The Country Store will be in Building 5. All the items are made by Extension homemakers, who make and sell each year. The store is organized and run by Katy Weaver.

The snack bar is operated by Wayne Patterson. He will have free coffee and tea for the exhibitors. Snacks will be available.

The decorating team of James and Janie Woods will have the grounds looking pretty and welcoming.

Come start your holiday and gift shopping. Benches are located around the grounds when the visitors need to rest.

The Sentinel-Record/Richard Rasmussen CRAFTED FURNITURE: Ronnie Stinson, center, of Magnet Cove, creates furniture with the assistance of Matt Hall as the metal specialist. They have done their craft for a year. With Stinson are Bob Stout and Martha Wilson.

The Sentinel-Record/Richard Rasmussen SEWN TREASURES: Bobbie Watts, second from left, has done crafts for years. She creates a variety of sewn items. Her sister, Jean Lucas, works with her. They make Raggedy Ann dolls, ornaments, children’s purses and tote bags. Hostesses with them are...

The Sentinel-Record/Richard Rasmussen HAND-PAINTED CLOTHING: Modeling for Tina Bush are Phyllis Pipkin, left, Wanda Felts and Peggy Barnett. Bush, who resides in Oklahoma, does hand-painted women’s clothing.

The Sentinel-Record/Richard Rasmussen FAIR COMMITTEE: The Hot Springs Arts and Crafts Fair Committee members include Jo Spoerle, front left, Selwin Pipkin, Bob Stout, Peggy Barnett, chairman; back, Martha Wilson, Wanda Felts, Sally Patterson, Wayne Patterson, Jane Oliver, Wilma Blair and...

The Sentinel-Record/Richard Rasmussen MADE FROM WOOD: Jack and Marilyn Feimster, center, make wooden toys, bird houses, lazy Susans, cutting boards and more. With them are hostesses Wilma Blair, left, and Jane Oliver.

The Sentinel-Record/Richard Rasmussen NATURAL SUPPLIES: Hot Springs resident Wilma Bledsoe, left, has done craft shows for 43 years. She works with Janie Dahlem, of Louisiana. Bledsoe makes wreaths of all natural items, such as pine cones, pods, nuts, gourds, shells, dried mushrooms and...

The Sentinel-Record/Richard Rasmussen HOMEMADE ROCKERS: Leon Sutton, left, makes heritage rocking. He was taught by Dallas Bump. His wife, Donna, right, weaves the bottom of the chairs and stools. With them is hostess Jo Spoerle.