’tis the Season to Give

The 24th Annual Holiday Arts and Crafts Show in Bixby is the perfect place to browse and find that little gift of appreciation.

As the season of giving approaches, we begin to think of those who do so much for us throughout the year and who we would like show our appreciation to: teachers, co-workers, healthcare workers and other service providers. Where can one find small gifts to show such appreciation, gifts that will be unique and yet affordable?

According to Celia Wetherill, the 24th Annual Holiday Arts and Crafts Show in Bixby is the perfect place to browse and find that little gift of appreciation. “This event gives a great opportunity to buy those last-minute gifts at reasonable prices,” she says.

The show will be held on Saturday, December 5, 2009 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Celia expects this year’s event will be bigger and better than ever. “We have 70 booths available and turnout in the past has been great – 800 to 900 people on a consistent basis.” The show features every kind of ware imaginable for arts and crafts lovers: antiques, baskets, candles, crochet, ceramics, fabric crafts, wood crafts, fine arts, scrapbooking, jewelry, flowers, furniture, pet supplies, paper goods and food. Celia says there are commercial vendors represented at the event as well, including Avon, Pampered Chef, Scentsy Candles, Arbonne and Mary Kay, but the bulk of the merchandise is handcrafted. Door prizes will be handed out throughout the day, and a raffle will be held for a handmade quilt, crafted by the Pins and Needles Quilting Club of Bixby. Proceeds from the quilt raffle go to local charities.

Booth space is still available, but Celia encourages vendors to hurry. “We always get a great response, and we start taking booth space entries in June. This event has grown so that we always have a waiting list by the time it gets here.” New vendors will be represented as well as traditional favorites, such as Mary Laswell, who specializes in baby blankets and has been exhibiting since the show began.

Proceeds from booth rental go to fund the multitude of community events sponsored over the course of the year by Bixby Community Center. “This is our biggest fundraiser of the year,” Celia says, pointing out that it helps fund coloring contest prizes, the Easter Egg Hunt, Green Corn Festival activities, and mother-son and father-daughter dances. Celia especially enjoys organizing these dances, reporting that the Mummy and Me Mother and Son Dance at Halloween was a great success, and she is looking forward to the Valentine’s Day Father Daughter Dance coming in February.

The Bixby Community Center is the site of many great activities in addition to these mentioned, with many ongoing programs available, including karate, Mande Muda Silat (an ancient Indonesian martial art), Bixby Wild Bunch Boxing Club, Aerials Parks and Recreation Gymnastics Team, cheerleading gymnastics, beginning and intermediate gymnastics, Tippi Toes Dance Company, preschool programs and much more. For more information about The Bixby Arts and Crafts Show or any of Bixby Community Center’s great programs, call (918) 366-4841.

For more information, contact

Bixby Community Center

211 N. Cabaniss Ave.

Bixby, OK 74008

(918) 366-4841