Vendors Wanted

Vendor space is available for two big September events – the Gold Rush Mercantile and the Rogers County Fair.

Lisa Dennis and Tanya Andrews of the Claremore Convention & Visitors Bureau.

With school starting early this year, the month of August is sure to race by with September at its finish line –which is why Tanya Andrews, executive ­director of Claremore Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB), and Lisa Dennis, ­marketing coordinator, want to be sure and remind local craftspeople, merchants and vendors of upcoming opportunities for booth space at the Gold Rush Mercantile on September 1-3 and the Rogers County Fair on September 13-15.

The Gold Rush Mercantile is held in conjunction with the Oklahoma Palomino Go for the Gold Futurity, a horse show and competition in which 250 Palomino horses and their ­owners, riders and families join to display their talents at the Claremore Expo Center September 1-3 (show hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the 1st and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the 2nd and 3rd).

In keeping with the spirit of this event, the Gold Rush Mercantile is accepting exhibitor registrations to those selling western wear and jewelry, western décor and home furnishings, as well as horse care related items such as equestrian supplies, accessories and equipment – even items as large as horse trailers and pickups. Exhibitor applications will be accepted through August 24 and can be obtained by calling the Claremore Convention & Visitors Bureau at (918) 341-8688. Admission is free to the public. “This is a chance for local entrepreneurs and businesses to showcase their merchandise,” says Tanya. “The event will also have great food and activities for the children.”

After a short two-week interval, it will be time for the 98th annual Rogers County Fair, and vendor sign-ups are open for this event as well. As marketing coordinator of the CVB, Lisa Dennis broadened the scope of the fair last year and will do so even more so this year. “This year will be the first year in a long time that we’ve added a true old-fashioned fair carnival,” she says. “We will have fair food and rides for the kids.”

This larger arena provides even more opportunities for potential vendors. Lisa reports that last year’s vendor booths hosted a wide variety, everything from food to insurance to ­jewelry to handmade items to western tack to the local marina.

Lisa, who graduated from Western Illinois University and came to work for the visitors bureau in January of 2011, enjoys living and working in Rogers County, and her commitment to her new home is evident by her desire to make the Rogers County Fair better than it has ever been before. She hopes that vendor sign-ups will reflect an even broader spectrum of what Rogers County has to offer. Fair book and entry forms for ­potential Rogers County Fair vendors are available at www.rogerscountyfair.com, with an August 24 deadline. Information can also be obtained by contacting Tanya or Lisa.

For more information, contact

Claremore Convention & Visitors Bureau

www.visitclaremore.org