Over 135 vendors will pack the north and main gym on Saturday Oct. 29 and Sunday, Oct. 30, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., for the 33nd annual Parkway West Band Craft Fair.
“It funds much of our competition activities including bus and truck rental and entry fees, which can be sizable,” Craft Fair social media manager Carrie Nenonen said.
The wide variety of vendors range from accessories and art to decor and leather works.
“We try to keep a healthy balance, a little bit of everything. One strict rule we do have though is we have a 20 percent cap on third party vendors to stay true to the ‘Shop local’ craft aspect of the event,” Nenonen said. “We host consultants for wonderful companies like LuLaRoe and Jamberry, though we do place a cap to ensure the event stays true to our #ShopLocal mission.”
The Craft Fair Organizers have marketed the event through social media and with lawn signs around campus nearby neighborhoods.
“We have definitely seen an increase in interest, I think most because the community is so connected online and we have pushed our online efforts. We have had to turn a number of vendors away this year as we reached capacity, so we are considering an expansion over the next couple of years,” Nenonen said.
The craft fair also includes a raffle, a used book sale, a band-booster bake sale and concessions.
“We have a pancake breakfast served by Chris Cakes which is a blast. They offer all-you-can-catch pancakes and sausage. That is where we tend to see the most West students,” Nenonen said.
While general admission is free, band members are selling tickets for the pancake breakfast, $8 for adults, $5 for children ages five to 12, and kids under five eat free.
“We typically have over 1500 customers come through and raise roughly $10 thousand each year,” Nenonen said.
![Adding a tray of canned corn to the pile, junior Michael Collop assists in transporting donations for the Holiday Food Drive. The event, hosted schoolwide from Dec. 10-17, raised over 5,000 food items to deliver to the Parkway Food Pantry, helping several families in need. "[The drive] is a great thing for us to do because you're giving to those who are less fortunate, and it helps provide for people who can't provide for themselves. [The] competition is always fun, too. It was fun to be in [social studies teacher Jeff] Chazen’s class, because he always gets worked up over [the competition]. He made it exciting, and was always convincing us to turn in cans for the drive,” Collop said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/feature-photo-unsung-2.png)
![Principal John McCabe announces that Jeffrey Chazen has won Teacher of the Year. Chazen was discussing freedom of speech with his AP Government class when the door opened and administrators rushed in. “[I was] extremely happy and humbled, but mostly shock[ed]. I've been here longer than any other teacher, so I know most of the people on the list of Teachers of the Year, and they are amazing teachers themselves,” Chazen said. “It's just nice to be on the list with them, including [social studies teacher Kristen] Collins, who is the only other social studies teacher who has won Teacher of the Year. It was nice to bring something back to the social studies department.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/DSC_0021-1-2-1200x801.jpg)
![Striking a pose following their group dance, the 2024 Mr. Longhorn contestants welcome their audience to the show. Throughout the night, the nine competitors participated in an occupational section, skits for the talent portion and a fashion attire show before finalists were interviewed. “It's a fun time getting to hang out with my friends and doing [our] acts. I think I'm most excited for my performance with [seniors Bart Connors, Gavin Hamlin and Colin Hughes]. I like that I get to dance a little bit. I don't think I'm very good, but I'm gonna try my best to put on a show,” contestant and senior Henry Wild said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/DSC_9759-1200x798.jpg)
![Kicking off dress rehearsal, Mr. Longhorn contestant and senior Carson Hughes goes over the group routine alongside other competitors. With just two days of practice, all participants learned the entirety of their introductory dance, chose an occupation to embody and crafted skits for the show. “The best part of this [whole thing] was learning the dance and just practicing with the guys. We [have to] try not to laugh the whole time, but we're having a lot of fun,” Hughes said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_5112-1-e1732164157549-1200x812.jpg)
![Blending together a concoction for a science experiment, science teacher Joel Anderson scares his students by bringing excitement and thrill into his classroom for his annual Halloween show. It took about six weeks for Anderson to set up his classroom for the show. “It’s pure terror. I came up with this idea a couple decades ago to do something fun for Halloween. So I pretend to be this mad scientist [that creates] a Frankenstein-like creature [with the class], learning a little bit of science along the way and [then ending] with a laser show. It’s just for fun; entertainment value,” Anderson said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/DSC_0021.JPG_-1200x800.jpg)
![Standing with girls cross country team mascot Pump the pumpkin, senior Sydney Etchason laughs with her teammates. Before the team’s senior night, Etchason undertook an odyssey to recover the pumpkin, which had been stolen by boys cross country. “We went through practice, and then a little birdie told me that it was in [senior] Emmett [Vernon's] car. I [offered Vernon] $50 to give us our pumpkin back, and we got Pump back,” Etchason said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/DSC_0002-1-1200x800.jpg)
Carrie Nenonen • Oct 29, 2016 at 10:53 am
Thank you for the article, Mary Claire! While I have helped in the marketing, the real props for organizing goes to Beth Brinkhoff Dorrance, Carla Bottorff Foy, Angie Boshaw Stevens, Karen Karl, Mr. Wallace, and numerous other band parents, staff, and kids who have given hours of time to this sizable project. It truly is a group project to benefit the awesome band.
I also want to mention the event includes a Band Booster Bake Sale with all donations from band parents and local businesses. It is awesome. Regardless, we really appreciate your hard work and help in advertising!