There's a line up of people waiting an hour before the doors open and when they are flung wide, it's a mad rush but nobody seems to be heading in the same direction.
That's what organizer Diane Fairservice sees every year at the start of the annual Mennonite Fall Fair in Prince George. This year's fair goes Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Civic Centre.
"People scatter to make sure they get their garage sale bargain, others go straight to the baking because they know that will sell out early," said Fairservice. "They know that there is something they buy every year that will sell out early and they want to make sure they get it."
Many families attend the fair to buy their children's back-to-school items.
"The kids are excited because they are getting something new to them, including clothing and footwear," said Fairservice. "And it's just a great feeling for us to help them out in that way."
The fair offers a variety of temptations including those slightly used at the garage, book and clothing sales, the unique treasures from Ten Thousand Villages, and the 2,700 pounds of gala apples freshly picked just last week, bagged up and ready for people to take home.
There's a silent auction, baked goods, farmer sausage, perogies and local produce available.
All-day lunch includes borscht, farmer sausage on a bun and a favourite dessert.
"And if you stick around long enough and if you're lucky there might be enough soup left over for you to buy and take home," said Fairservice. There's even house plants for people to take home.
"We would love for people to do some early Christmas shopping - if that's not too foreign a word for people this early in the year - because our local crafts table always has lots of beautiful handmade, hand knitted, hand sewn items available for purchase," said Fairservice. "We have Ten Thousand Villages again this year so there are Christmas ornaments, fair trade coffee, chocolate, tea, carvings from Africa, baskets from around the world - there's always nice things to choose from."
The fall fair is sponsored by the Westwood Mennonite Brethren Church and proceeds from the fair mostly go to support programs promoting hope and education for Syrian refugee children. It only takes $25 for each child to attend school for one year so a majority of the funds raised will go toward that program, while some funds will go to support the local Ness Lake Bible Camp bursary, the New Life Centre in downtown Prince George and the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at the University of Northern B.C.
The New Life Centre is a drop-in centre for homeless people that provides food, coffee, tea, and clothing. Staff at the centre volunteer at the fair.
"It's nice to see that people who have worked at the centre for a number of years come and work for us at the fair every year in recognition of the donation," said Fairservice. "It's just great to see them giving to us so we can support them."
It takes hundreds of volunteers to run the fair that thousands attend.
"There is a great variety of items available and it's incredible when you think that the majority of the donations of used books, used clothing, garage sale items, silent auction items, local crafts, and baking, all come from within our church community," said Fairservice, a longtime member of Westwood Church. "Almost all of those items are donated to the fair from our congregation to help the community as well as support the programs the funds raised will go to. We hope everyone comes out to support us at the fair."
Admission is free.
