Chunky residents and visitors gathered at the baseball diamond in downtown Chunky Saturday for deals, fun and food at the annual Chucky Craft Fair.
The Craft Fair, which shares the same day as Chunky’s community-side yard sale, drew vendors, shoppers and browsers from all across Newton County to look for a good deal, get a head start on Christmas shopping or just get out and see friends.
Terry Lou Hopkins, a member of the Chunky Volunteer Fire Department, set up her booth at the Craft Fair offering hand-crafted crocheted items. Hopkins, a prolific crocheter, amped up her production in preparation for the fair, making afghans, beanies, ear warmers and blankets for residents to stock up before winter.
Hopkins said she enjoyed crocheting, and as the Craft Fair benefited Chunky Volunteer Fire Department, she was glad to put her talents to work helping out her fellow first responders.
Several booths down, David Talley’s booth boasted thousands of colorful balloons just waiting to be inflated.
Talley, who has worked as a magician and balloon artist for more than 40 years, brought his talents to the Craft Fair to help out his community and add some good fun to the event.
“I started getting paid in 1976, so I can’t even do the math anymore,” he said about his career as a magician.
Talley said he brings his balloon art and illusions to birthday parties, churches, picnics, schools and more.
“It’s the perfect entertainment,” he said.
While the Craft Fair was centered around the baseball field, residents throughout the town brought out wares of their own, drawing even more visitors to the community-wide yard sale. From armoires to mattresses and clothing of all kinds, more than a dozen yard sales featured goods for the home, family and more.
In previous years, residents have coordinated the Craft Fair and yard sale, even drawing up maps to help visitors navigate from sale to sale. This year, however, visitors were trusted to follow signs, cars and pedestrians winding their way through town.
Maps or no maps, vendors and the Craft Fair and yard-saling residents noted a steady stream of shoppers throughout the day, marking another successful year for the community’s Craft Fair and yard sale event.
