Community Holiday Craft Fair

A local school district hosted a Community Holiday Craft Fair at one of their schools. They had a $2 cover charge that went to support... something, I didn’t really pay attention. Awesome event. Many, many vendors. Great variety. There were enough to fill the gym AND the cafeteria. Plus the choir and bands were performing. And the students were selling concession stand food. This is a great event to bring the community into your building as crafters and as buyers. It can really show entrepreneurship to the kids. Does everyone have one of these? There were a few booths that had a student at them, but several seemed like they were just there with mom/dad. One table did seem to be solely a young person. I need to get better are asking about things like this/interviewing people. 

But I have some ideas for the event. Remember, I want the kids to be makers and entrepreneurs.

Let us start with the concessions. Get rid of the concession stand food (hot dogs, doughnuts, candy, popcorn). Okay, we can keep the popcorn. I love popcorn. And there was a local vendor doing caramel kettle corn. Every school building should have a culinary class, not just one for the District. The students should be doing culinary demonstrations and selling awesome, freshly prepared food.

Now for the vendors. I love having community entrepreneurs in, but the students should also be the entrepreneurs.  How far do we want to carry that?
- Vendors should have student interns working with them all year. Give preference to those vendors.
- Local craftspeople should be in the schools at various times of the year showing the possibilities of their craft. This could be after school workshops, though I would prefer that we care enough about this to have during school workshops.

- Have a percentage of student vendors. I think it would be good if students find a mentoring craftsperson. Somewhat different from being their intern. What percentage do you want.  On one hand I think it could be 100% student booths. But I do want to bring community entrepreneurs in and showcase them. School is a community thing. So 50/50? 51/49? Obviously there would only be a few student booths to begin with, but build it up.

I believe our students can make similar creations that you see at these markets.
​I think some already do.
I also think a #Maker centered school could run a market once a month all year.