St. Mary Fall Fest Draws Hundreds to Chelsea

Whether they were shopping for themselves or picking out a last-minute Sweetest Day gift for a loved one, area residents filled the hall at St. Mary Catholic Church in Chelsea for the sixth annual Fall Fest and Craft Show on Saturday.

The show featured 48 vendors from across the state showcasing their wares, along with raffles and a bake sale. The event takes place every year on the third Saturday in October.

"We've been growing every year," event organizer Lana Leisinger of Chelsea said. "We started with 25 vendors and it's been steadily growing thanks to word-of-mouth from the local artists."

For a $1 admittance fee, shoppers could browse aisle after aisle of handmade crafts ranging from Teddy bears and artwork to hemp and crystal jewelry.

"Our variety has gotten a lot better," Leisinger said. "It's a great excuse to shop for not only Christmas, but for any occasion leading up to Christmas."

Susan Craig of Chelsea, who has been attending the event since its inception, was on hand selling her paintings and notecards.

"This is a great venue because I get a lot of orders and I get to see some of my friends and former students," she said. "It's a lot of fun to be able to come out here every year and show people what I do."

Gary Boychuck of Hell said this was his first time attending the craft fair.

"I think it's a very nice show," he said. "I usually travel around to the local American Legion halls to see my granite platters, but I heard about this show from a friend and I wanted to see what it was all about."

Leisinger said she is always impressed with the quality of items for sale at the show.

"It's just a good hometown craft show," she said. "You can find something for just about anyone—whether it's a guy or girl. I think that's one reason why we continue to attract a wider audience."

In addition to the vendors, customers could also purchase raffle tickets for a chance at various prize baskets donated by local Chelsea businesses. Proceeds from the raffle sales benefited the St. Louis Center in Chelsea, a residential care center for individuals with developmental needs, and the Faith in Action food pantry, which serves Chelsea and Dexter.

"We couldn't survive without the help of our local businesses," Leisinger said. "Our business men and women are wonderful and they support us very well."