Perfect Day for Artisan Fair

Lisa Elliott, one of the chief organizers of the Effingham Artisan Fair said many prayers were shared and many fingers were crossed that their decision to back up the weekend for the event into May would pay off with better weather.

It did.

The storms that were headed to Effingham County Friday afternoon either went to the south or dissipated completely, leading to a beautiful Friday evening for the "Arts and Hearts" portion of the event and a sunny day for the Artisan Fair today.

(THE "SIEMER ROLLERS" SQUAD THAT WON THE TREC TRIKE RACE COMPETITION FRIDAY NIGHT, INCLUDING BRANNON BOEHM, BRIAN RUHOLL, SIEMER MILLING PRESIDENT RICK SIEMER, MATT BECK AND NIKKI KOESTER)

Highlights Friday evening included a spirited TREC Trike Race, where the Siemer Milling Company team, the "Siemer Rollers" emerged victorious; an ARC Community Support Systems Art Auction that generated bids totaling $7,675, the most ever for the event; music by Heather and Marty and by Russ Howard at the beer and wine tasting event; a host of entries at the CAN DO Art exhibit with proceeds going to Catholic Charities' food pantry; a variety of food; and a "soft opening" by many of the artisans being featured at today's Artisan Fair.

(AUCTIONEER TRENT SCHMID HELPS RAISE ALMOST $7,700 AT THE A-R-C ART AUCTION.  THE PROCEEDS WILL HELP MAINTAIN THE ART PROGRAM FOR CONSUMERS AT A-R-C C-S-S)

The Artisan Fair today will run from 10am to 4pm.  More than 40 artisans will have their work on display.  The same food providers seen last night will be back, and the Effingham Central Business Group is sponsoring a Coffee Crawl where participants go get a cup of coffee at participating downtown businesses and get their card punched, with the cards then returned to the Information Booth on the lawn of the old Courthouse to be eligible to win a prize.  The CAN DO Art is still on display, music will again be featured, there's a Kids Corner with various activities going on, and lots of items that might make a unique Mother's Day gift.  The beer and wine tasting is also back from 10am to 5pm.

(ONE OF THE "CAN DO" ART EXHIBITS SEEN AT THE ARTISAN FAIR)