Gilford High Craft Fair returns for 47th year on Saturday, Dec. 6

GILFORD — The 47th Gilford High School Craft Fair will take place on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will be packed with shoppers and vendors from around the Lakes Region with over 130 small businesses and organizations selling everything from baked goods, jewelry, metalworking and more.

Expect wall to wall traffic, from the middle school cafeteria’s baked treats to the high school gymnasium’s sculptures and trinkets.

In order to accomplish an endeavor this large, the senior class of Gilford High School will be on the call. They will work either the day before between the hours of noon and 9 p.m. or the day of the fair between 7 a.m. and 5:45 p.m. 

The senior class checklist includes setting up the 130+ booths, checking in with vendors to see if they need snacks and hydration, and maybe even subbing in for Mr. Claus as he works hard to make his Christmas Eve deadline. 

The Craft Fair is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the seniors, who are looking to raise money for their class trip to Lake George, New York. This is the best opportunity for the class of 2026 to make money for the trip and other approaching senior events.

“I think it is going to go pretty good,” said Vice President Molly Alessandro, when asked about the potential success of the event. When “everyone work[s] together… students won’t have to pay a lot of money to go on the trip [to Lake George].” She claims many seniors signed up with their friends to keep supporting their class together. 

“I think the craft fair is a really positive experience for the community and the seniors who will benefit from it,” said co-chair of the craft fair Dawn Ledwith. She personally “enjoy[s] the vendors who sell different bee products and many of the other local vendors such as the garlic guy who owns a local garlic farm.”

When asked about involvement and potential highlights from GHS’s seniors, Mg Jenkins, the co-advisor of the craft fair for the last 20 years, replied “[They work hard], and the connections that they make during the craft fair. They always make a great impression.”

The senior class will have tables set up to sell broccoli cheese soup, Italian wedding soup, chili, and mac and cheese prepared by Lakeside Deli. Additionally, the future graduating classes of Gilford will be selling goods as well to fundraise for their own class pursuits.

For more information, visit sau73.org.