Crafters Pack Up After Cold Weekend

Disappointing Sales but Hope Remains

Sebastian Florida's Riverview Park offered a cold weekend of 63 degree temps and the wind blowing right off of the water for the Christmas craft show this December 7, 2008 . Only a small isthmus stands between the ocean wind and Riverview Park.  Reports of poor attendance and disappointing sales lead to concerns about the current state of the economy.

With loving care, tired crafters packed away after another weekend that in was in so many ways like all the rest. Still, a surprising amount of beautiful, and charming Christmas items were passed up and left behind only to be stored in hope that next fair might bring better sales.

In a booth full of dream catcher mandalas of every color and size, a woman rests awhile in her folding chair in the corner. She's dressed in winter garb topped with a flannel quilted jacket. We talk about the weather, and the lack of anticipated traffic.

"You know, that's always the way craft shows go, though," she says. "You never know one way or the other. Whether the economy is good or bad, your sales are always a surprise."

Other than the weather, many other events competed for the weekend activities agenda. The Prism concert sold out for four nights in a row, and a 100 year birthday celebration for The Victorian Lady House made for stiff competition on the things to do - places to go list.

A vintage car show, and vintage clothing display brought many visitors to the Victorian Lady's grounds. Reenactments of those days of yore provided entertainment for the afternoon.

In the neighboring town, actors in "Nutcrackers, the Nunsense Christmas Musical" performed at the Go-Round Dinner Theatre in Vero Beach only 20 minutes from Sebastian.

Another popular annual celebration took place at Ft. Christmas in Christmas Florida. Near Orlando, in one of the many Orange County State Parks, this park is historical due to the war fought there with the Seminole Indians. This weekends poor attendance at the Christmas Craft show was evidently a case of so much to view, so little time.