Viking Village Welcomes Crafters From Around New Jersey

The cooler temperatures and overcast skies proved a solid attraction yesterday for the hundreds who attended the Viking Village Arts and Crafts show yesterday.

Amy Moore, of Merchantville, was selling the painted oyster shells her aunt Jennifer Gionnone, who lives in Florida, painted. Moore said the shells, which bore likenesses of Santa Claus and were actually found along the shoreline in Long Beach Island, said they were selling well, because the shells are a nice reminder of the summer, even during the cold holiday season.

Barnegat Light resident Chuck Ahlert sold out of his fresh cut flowers by noon. He told a Patch reporter the nice weather proved a boon for business. "You can never predict a crowd like this," he said.

Karen Larson, who runs the event, told Patch that the event featured 74 crafters. She said Viking Village began hosting the event in 1991, to help showcase all of the retail stores located within Viking Village and to showcase local talent. She added that each year, she is impressed with the variety of crafts that are available, and those visitors to the craft fair agreed.

Edith Perrotti, of Beach Haven, said the overcast skies and nice weather proved the perfect combination for a day in Barnegat Light."I saw the signs all over the island advertising [the event], and decided to come out," Perrotti said.