BrandonInfo.com

The groups that put on the summer Arts & Crafts Festival in McHardy Park want to move the event to the first weekend in August so it can be part of Hometown Days. One reason is that one big event may draw more people than two smaller events. It’s also easier to plan everything at the same time instead of planning two events, one on top of the other.

The Arts & Crafts Festival has been a Brandon tradition for more than 30 years. It started in the parking lot of what is now True Value. At least one year, it was held on the grounds of Brandon Elementary. Recently, it switched from its traditional July date to a date in June. So this is not the first time changes have been made to the event.

What do you think of the festival being combined with Hometown Days?

The Brandon Valley Area Chamber of Commerce would like to pass along its sponsorship of the festival to some other group or organization. Is your group interested? Other sponsors of the Arts & Crafts Festival are the Brandon Edge, VFW and Lions.

Are you as an individual interested in helping with any portion of the festival? Would you help with mailings to the vendors, or staking out the area for the booths the day before the event? Would you be a runner during the event, carrying messages and supplies?

It’s always more work to participate in an event instead of just attending it. But volunteers everywhere say they gain so much from being a part of something. Will you consider volunteering?