Sourciful

Head: The Logan Novemberfest may have found a new permanent home

By Judd Workman

On Friday and Saturday the Novemberfest Arts and Crafts Fair, for the first time, was not held at the Logan High School — and customers are happy with the change.

For the past 32 years the Novemberfest has been held in the local high school, but this year Charlene Watts and Nina DeSpain, the organizers of the show, decided to change the location to the Riverwoods Conference Center.

“We wanted somewhere that was better lit and warmer,” Watts said. “We thought this would be a better fit for everyone involved.”

DeSpain said she wasn’t too pleased with all the construction going on at the high school.

“There isn’t enough parking around the high school and we just felt like we needed a change,” DeSpain said. “We have had so many positive comments about having it here instead.”

Along with the location change, the entrance fee for customers has gone up from $1 to $2.

“When we moved here our rent quadrupled so we had to do something to help pay for the building,” Watts said. “But so far no one is complaining.”

DeSpain said she was confident the dollar increase wouldn’t hinder the attendance this year.

“It’s well worth it and we have charged only a dollar for 32 years,” DeSpain said. “I’ve had people tell me we should charge more.”

Tawna Smith, a vendor participating in the Novemberfest for the first time, said she liked the layout of the conference center.

“Even though I wasn’t a vendor in the previous years, I attended a lot,” Smith said. “I think it is more conducive here”

“I imagine the atmosphere is a lot better than a high school,” said Ryan Welling, a first-time customer at the Novemberfest. “This is very open, the lighting is great and the atmosphere is enjoyable.”

Becky Pond, a returning vendor who sold her jewelry at Logan High School in previous years, didn’t know what to expect from the location change.

“I like it here,” Pond said. “It’s brighter and a lot warmer.”

If everything works out next year, Watts and DeSpain are hoping to have the Novemberfest at the Riverwoods Conference Center again.