Artesia fair to showcase homemade crafts, baked goods

It's not too early to start shopping for the holidays at the eighth annual Artesia Craft Fair and Bake Sale underway today and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

There will be over 40 vendors selling their wares inside and outside of the Artesia Community Center at 6601 Fox Ave., off Kellogg Road.

"We keep getting bigger and bigger ever year," said Lavonne Suzuki, chairperson of the Artesia Social Committee, which organizes the event.

Many of the vendors return every year along with some new ones, which resulted in placing some craft booths in the parking lot of the community center.

Christmas crafts, jewelry, homemade aprons, potholders, baby clothes, soaps, juices, lotions and homemade baked "goodies" are only a sampling of the vast array of items at the fair. There will also be a raffle of some "crafty" items.

Chili cheese hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, chips and drinks will be available to buy for lunch between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

"There is everything, they have everything and you don't have to walk very far," Suzuki said.

Hundreds of people patronize the craft fair each year.

"We have a constant stream of people at all times coming through," Suzuki said. "Hundreds of people come to this, because we promote all over Pahrump and we even get people from Vegas coming out to this."

Marie Virkus, Suzuki's sister-in law, is visiting Pahrump and will be a newcomer to the event.

"We're having a great time getting ready for the craft fair and bake sale," Virkus said.

They've made some of the crafts and Suzuki taught her how to make peanut brittle and toffee bars .

According to Suzuki, the fair is a big fundraiser for the Artesia Social Committee, which in past years, has donated a portion of the proceeds to a variety of community projects and organizations including a local veterans group and a nursing home, among others. The Pahrump Valley Lions Club will be a first-time recipient of a donation this year.

The social committee hosts other events at the Artesia Community Center throughout the year.

"We also do the children's Christmas party and that is getting so big that we have over 70 children plus the parents that bring them or the grandparents that bring the children," Suzuki said.

The kids invited from Floyd and Hafen Elementary schools are also served breakfast and do crafts. Suzuki said the party costs quite a bit along with buying materials to make the crafts.

They also host an annual Easter egg hunt where they stuff and hide over 1,000 eggs.

Chairperson Suzuki said she is "exceptionally proud" of how all the Artesia homeowners come together and donate baked goods to make the event a success.