Fall Festival Creative Arts Contest
In just a few short weeks, Hopkins County will be teeming with out-of-town visitors, the smell of stew cooked over an open fire, the sound of laughter coming from carnival rides, shoppers looking for that one-of-a-kind hand-crafted item, live music resonating through the air, trolley rides, and all the sights, sounds, and smells associated with a county fair.
The Hopkins County Fall Festival begin with a parade on Saturday, October 18, and end the following Saturday with opportunities galore for all ages! I have the privilege to coordinate the Arts & Crafts Show each year, where artisans have their hand-crafted wares for sale. Applications are coming in quickly, and we have a great variety of items – from hand-crafted jewelry to greeting cards, quilts to baby items, decorative gourds to stuffed animals, and much more! If you are interested in being a vendor, contact my office and I’ll get the information to you. Remember, this is for hand-crafted items only – no commercially-made items will be accepted.
What is a county fair without the blue ribbon entries? The Creative Arts Contest is open to all Hopkins County residents. Now is the time to prepare your entries. Below are the guidelines:
1) Entrants must be Hopkins County residents.
2) Contest will take place in the Sulphur Springs High School Conference Center.
3) Articles must have been made within the past twelve months (September, 2013 thru August, 2014)
4) Participants may enter as many items as desired, but only one item per class.
5) $1.00 entry fee per person (unless 4-H member, entering as part of a school class, or nursing home resident)
6) Registration will be held Monday, October 20 thru Wednesday, October 22, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Extension Office, 1200 W. Houston. Entries may also be taken directly to the Sulphur Springs High School conference center, Thursday, October 23 from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m., or Friday, October 24, 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. No entries will be accepted after 9:30 a.m.
7) Age divisions: children (up to age 10); youth (ages 11-19); adults (20-69); older Texans (70 & above); nursing home/assisted living residents
8) Entries must be labeled using tags available at registration.
9) Entries will be judges on Friday, October 24, beginning at 10:00 a.m.
10) Items will be on display for public viewing on Friday, October 24 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., and Saturday, October 25, from 9:00 am. To 1:45 p.m. Check-out time is 1:45 p.m. All items that are not picked up will be taken to the Extension Office.
11) Best of Show and Reserve (rosette winners) pictures will be taken at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 25, in the High School Conference Center.
No professional exhibits will be allowed due to space limitations.
Entry divisions are: clothing, food preservation, bake show (will be cut and sampled), decorated cakes (will not be cut), handiwork, holiday/seasonal, creative crafts, art, photography, quilts, dolls, horticulture, woodworking, and separate nursing home/assisted living division. We will find a division for any item brought in!
If you have questions on either the Arts & Crafts Show or the Creative Arts Contest, please feel free to give us a call!
Diabetes Academy
If you missed the Cooking Well with Diabetes series, you might be interested in the Diabetes Academy, led by Diabetes Educator, Debbie Johnson. This session will take place at the Hopkins County office of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, 1200 W. Houston, Sulphur Springs, Wednesday, September 10, 9:30 a.m. There is no charge for the program, and you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and network with others. Sign up is not mandatory, but would help us to plan adequately. Please give us a call at 903-885-3443 if you plan to attend.
Closing thought
Home is where memories are made – make them good memories!
Johanna Hicks
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Family & Consumer Sciences
1200-B W. Houston
P.O.Box 518
Sulphur springs, TX 75483
903-885-3443 – phone
903-439-4909 – Fax
