LEON — On Nov. 9 in Leon people may spend an entire day having fun in south central Iowa.
Southern Iowa Crafts and More Festival is 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. New this year are vendors in two Locations — Central Decatur North Elementary/Middle/High school campus in the northeast part of town and Leon Community Center on the southeast corner of the downtown square.
Santa Claus with live reindeer will be set up outside the main entrance to the high school, which is off the circle drive, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Bring your children, all of your friends or just yourself, and have your pictures taken to send out with Christmas cards. You may pay their photographer, or pay so much per group to use your own camera.
Featured at the event are skilled craft workers. There will be wood vendors, hand-sewn items, fancy crochet work, handmade seasonal decor for the home, jewelry, children’s items, metal-work, gourd designs, ceramic tiles, homemade lotions and beauty products.
In addition to the handmade crafters, there will be a large number of vendors with commercial items varying from home decor, commercial beauty products, candles, purses, jewelry, baked goods, cleaning products, knives and honey. The youngest crafter this year is hand-painting on light bulbs. People may see him at the community center. A vendor at the community center will be painting colorful designs on nails. A photographer will also be at the community center.
Gift certificates — some good with vendors in the show — and some from Leon area merchants — will be awarded. Be sure to sign in since that is how people qualify for a door prize award.
Decatur County 4-H Council youths will be wrapping Christmas presents. Look for them in the elementary part of the school building.
Eat breakfast, a snack or lunch in either venue. The Saint Brendan’s Catholic Church will be serving at the school venue. Decatur County Shooting Sports Club will be serving at the community center.
Local musicians will be in the high-school cafeteria. From 9 to 9:30 a.m., Virginia Webb and her piano students will be performing. Beginning at 9:30 a.m., Sharon Day and students from Mormon Trail Community School District will entertain.
From 10 to 10:30 a.m., the Allen/Hillyard Family Performers will entertain with at least one piano rendition with six hands on one keyboard.
From 10:30 a.m. to noon, Decatur County Community Choir, including a duet by Mary Frisbie and Tiffanie Evans; plus the Tradition Men’s Quartet (gospel) will perform.
From noon to 1 p.m., the cast of “Oklahoma” (Central Decatur Fall Musical) will showcase songs from their performances Friday, Nov. 8, Saturday, Nov. 9, and Sunday, Nov. 10 at the Leon Theater Building.
At 1 p.m. Beth Hall will be there with Central Decatur music students. At 1:30 p.m. Reflections Trio (gospel); and the Trinity Two duet performers will finish up the music for the day.