“I was happy when I found out we could come to Findley Lake this year,” said Janet Waite of Dewittville. “I am always pleased with coming to this fair. I’ve already signed up and paid for my table next year.”

Ashley Scarem, who owns Ashley’s Gifts and Such, has been coming to the Findley Lake craft fair for seven or eight years. She not only loves the event, but the town itself.

“I keep moving away but I keep coming back because it is a great town,” she said. “I’m very happy the craft fair is back.”

Like so many others, the Findley Lake craft fair was put on hold because of COVID. Cala Glantz, library manager who organized this year’s return, said she was pleased with the results.

Sixteen-year old Mary Swinarski (left) came with her mother Evelyn to work her very first craft fair at Findley Lake Photo by David Prenatt

“I think people are excited to be back,” she said. “It’s nice to see people coming out and eating and socializing.”

Most vendors said that business was steady. If the results from the kitchen are any measure, that certainly must have been true. By 3:30 p.m. all of the soup was gone, all of the sloppy joes were gone, even all of the doughnuts were gone. Only a few pies remained for latecomers

“It is good to be back,” said library board of directors member Nancy Roche as she served the last doughnut. “We did not know what to expect. It makes us feel so much better to know things are doing well.”

Not every vendor has previous memories of this event. For 16-year-old Mary Swinarski of Erie, it was her very first craft fair. She was selling an array for items she made, while her mother, Evelyn, offered homemade jewelry.

“I just like doing crafts,” Swinarski said. “It’s nice just seeing all of the people here.”

Ashley Scarem of Ashley’s Gifts and Such has been coming to the Findley Lake craft fair for many years. Photo by David Prenatt

For Cassie Devore of Jamestown, who operates Artsy Kitten Studio, it was also her first experience with the Findley Lake craft fair.

“A friend told me about it so I signed up,” she said. “Business has been pretty good. And it is super nice, super cute down here.”

Joanne Malecki, who volunteered at the library for many years, said she was delighted to be back at the craft fair.

“I’ve missed it so much,” she said. “I’ve missed the people.”

Gayle Scadden has brought her “snow people” and “snow kids” to the Findley Lake craft fair for many years.

For Cassie Devore, owner of Artsy Kitten Studio, it was the first time she had taken part in the Findley Lake craft fair. Photo by David Prenatt

“Last year was a really long year,” she said. “It’s great to come back. Just seeing everyone again is wonderful.”

Patty Venman and Jeanette Blood of Jamestown were offering several types of chocolate covered goodies and were very happy with the business of the day.

“The table was full,” Venman said. “This is a great craft show — very nice, very warm. …We really like Findley Lake.”

Each vendor also donated one item for a 50/50 raffle. As organizers began drawing the winning tickets at the end of the day, people were still coming in to peruse the tables. Which makes is a good bet that even though the soup and the sloppy joes may run out, but the Alexander Community Library Craft Fair will go on.

Sandy, the owner of Mousetown, was glad to see the Findley Lake Craft Fair return. Photo by David Prenatt

Vendors and patrons alike were happy to see the Alexander Findley Community Library Craft Fair return. Photo by David Prenatt