Over 70 vendors brought their wares to Novemberfest held in the Riverwoods Conference Center Friday and Saturday of the Thanksgiving weekend.
LOGAN – Charlene Watts wants to retire after 35 years of leading the Novemberfest Arts and Crafts Fair held in Logan on the weekend after Thanksgiving.
She said after doing it so long, it’s time for someone else to take the reins of the event.
Hundreds of people shopped over 70 vendors at last week’s, two-day event held at the Riverwoods Conference Center.
“This year’s Novemberfest went well; our attendance was pretty consistent to last year’s,” Watts said. “I believe the vendors were happy with the turnout and their sales.”
Year after year, booths offering high quality jewelry, toys, clothing, artwork, lotions, soaps, purses and home décor have been major attractions for shoppers. Santa also paid a visit during the fair.
In 1984, Charlene Watts and Nina DeSpain sat down together and decided local crafters and artisans needed a place to sell their wares and came up with Novemberfest. The two decided the Thanksgiving weekend would be the ideal time to find gifts for Christmas.
“My business partner, Nina DeSpain, retired three years ago so she and her husband could serve a church mission to Romania,” Watts said. “The vendors really want the fair to continue, so I will be looking for someone who wants to keep the tradition going.”
Vendors come from Idaho and from all along the Wasatch Front, but most of the vendors are local. Watts said she works on the fair all year long, but it really gets busy from October right up to the event.
The artisans are carefully screened to ensure the highest quality and unique products will be available at the Fair.
“I have loved getting to know the vendors and discovering their many talents,” Watts said. “I have also appreciated our loyal customers. Many of the women who came attended with their mothers when they were little girls.”
If anyone has an interest in leading the Novemberfest tradition, contact Watts at 435-512-9745.