Holiday Display and Craft Show Draws 800 People

The unique aromas, sounds and sights of the Christmas season filled Mentor’s Wildwood Cultural Center during its 32nd Holiday Display and Craft Show held Sunday.

Before the show began at 10 a.m., there was a line of people waiting to be the first through the doors.  An estimated 800 people attended the annual Holiday Show that featured 27 arts and crafts vendors from Northeast Ohio, plus more than 150 Christmas items that were made by the 50 members of the Wildwood Garden Club.

“We start preparing for this show in the summer when many of our ladies go to garage sales to look for items that we can recycle,” said Carol Davies, ways and means chair of the Wildwood Garden Club. “For example, we got two large artificial Christmas trees for free. A lady was moving so she gave them to us and we just redecorated them for the show.”

By October, the garden club members are in full swing making all types of wreaths, swags, centerpieces, tree ornaments and wooden crafts.

“We also use plants from the seven gardens that our club takes care of at the Wildwood Cultural Center, and we also use some new materials to make our Christmas items,” said Davies.

Many vendors said business during the craft show was brisk, and others said they expected to sell out.

“Business has been really good, and since we have been coming to this craft show for years, we usually sell out,” said Eleanor Stefancic, owner of Blue Ribbon Fudge Lady of Geneva.

The craft show is sponsored by the Wildwood Cultural Center, the Community Arts Commission and the city of Mentor.