Orland Craft Fair boasts huge selection

It is time to shop for Christmas and holiday treasures, and the Glenn County Fairgrounds in Orland will be full of them this weekend.

The 37th annual Orland Craft Fair runs 10 a.m. — 5 p.m., Saturday and 11 a.m. — 4 p.m. Sunday.

Sponsored by the Orland Historical and Cultural Society, the event draws thousands of visitors from around Northern California and beyond.

Coordinator Olga Peterson said more than 250 vendors are scheduled to attend and will fill the Whitsett-Cook, Arts and Crafts and Flaherty Hall buildings with wares that should delight people of all ages.

Crafts wares include not only Christmas decorations and treasures, she said, but home decor items, western-themed goods and metal art.

Clothing, photography, handmade jewelry, toys and knitted clothing await shoppers along with candles, soaps, and custom wood or wrought iron furniture.

Vendors like Lynda Langston are coming from Redding with one-of-a-kind home and garden solar landscape lights with themes around seascapes, gnomes, firefighters, and more.

Others like Sue Holt from Chico provides new children's clothing out of recycled and vintage fabrics, Peterson said.

New exhibitors include Cindy Shinault and Gaylene Pomeroy of South Lake Tahoe will be selling reusable designer multi-purpose bags while Montague resident Margeret Kunzler is to sell wheel-made pottery such as vases, lotion dispensers, oil lamps and more.

"The selection this year is huge," Peterson said. "These are all hand-made crafts — not something pulled out of a package with price tag stuck on it."

Peterson said these are quality gifts at affordable prices that are popular with customers from around the Sacramento Valley.

Visitors come from Chico, Corning, Red Bluff, Willows, Colusa, Paradise and as far north as Oregon. Others come up from Sacramento or the Bay area while visiting relatives in this area.

Chocolate also is a featured commodity to include fudge, toffee, brittles and other treats, she said.

Other food also will be available including pasta, lasagna, pulled pork sandwiches, hot dogs, baked potatoes, muffins and more.

Vendors also will sell specialty foods like olive oils, honey, nuts, barbecue sauces, jams, jellies, spices and cinnamon almonds produced by local companies.

Peterson added in a written statement the event is very important to local community groups as it provides fundraising opportunities for them. Nineteen nonprofits will there this year.

Some groups earn donations for services outside like parking cars while others sell within the craft fair.

All food groups are run by local service clubs and school organizations, she said.

Money raised during this event often lasts throughout the coming year, Peterson added.

Among them are the historical society, Capay Elementary School, Orland High School Band, the Avenue of Lights Drive-thru Committee, the Memorial Wreaths project, Rotary international of Orland with the Vern Bruce Memorial Toy Drive, Hamilton City Lions Club, Orland Pride, Knights of Columbus and more.

"We appreciate the local support for this event," Peterson said, not only from buyers but from vendors as well.

This year's offerings include an increased number of locally produced items like chocolates, jams, nuts and candies made by Northern California producers, she said. "This speaks well for our area."

The Orland craft fair also is one of the largest craft fairs along Interstate 5, Peterson said.

It is also the Orland Historical and Cultural Society's biggest fundraiser, she said.