Craft show weekend draws hundreds to shop Merrill

Merrill’s annual craft and vendor shows drew hundreds of shoppers out on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 8 and 9, 2024, to nearly a dozen locations in and around Merrill. The traffic sometimes came in waves, as groups of shoppers made their way from one spot to the next in search of unique handcrafted items, vintage treasures, and their favorite products from specialty vendors. Some found gifts and got a head start on their Christmas shopping; others found decor for their yards and homes; still others delighted to find a little something to pamper themselves; and some shoppers accomplished all three.
From New Testament Church on Merrill’s north side to the Holiday Market at Lange Machines south of Merrill on Hwy. K, and from the VFW on Merrill’s east side to Kate Goodrich Elementary School, which was probably the most westerly location, shoppers didn’t have to travel far between stops. Some, like the shows at the Merrill Expo Center [at the Fair Grounds], Merrill High School, St. Francis Catholic School, Les & Jim’s Lincoln Lanes, St. John’s Lutheran School gymnasium, and the Vintage & Uniques sale at the Agra Pavilion were just a short distance apart.
Shoppers could have walked between some locations, but driving was faster for most hard-core craft show shoppers, and a vehicle was helpful for stashing all of the purchases between stops.
Unique antique and vintage pieces decorated for Christmas were popular and selling fast, as were wreaths, baked goods, jewelry, and front porch decor, shoppers said. Signs of all kinds—from rustic to refined and everything in between—were in abundance, and gnomes were still popular. Sewn, crocheted, and quilted textiles; woodcrafts; decorated repurposed and upcycled items; stained glass, metal, pottery, wood, twigs, and glass; and indoor and outdoor decor with evergreen boughs—both real and artifical—were on display and for sale. Vintage and flea market finds and newly completed projects all found their place at the sales. The extensive variety of products and craft items, across the ten different locations, created a lot of interest for shoppers in Merrill this past weekend.
And for many, the shopping didn’t stop at the shows. Many shoppers stopped for a coffee, lunch, or a drink afterwards, lending an extra boost to the Merrill economy.<br/The St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store said they had a busy day Saturday, as well.
If you missed this batch of craft and vendor sales, you’ll want to mark your calendars for the Christmas Craft & Vendor Sales coming up on Dec. 7. So far three Merrill locations are on board for that event.