By DIANE GASPER-O’BRIEN
Special to Hays Post
LURAY — It’s been a while since the gym at Luray’s school building has been packed for a competitive high school basketball game against a rival opponent.
But on one day a year, one can almost hear the cheering while walking into the building that was once the home of Luray High School.
On the third Saturday of October, craft vendors and shoppers pack the gym and other parts of the school, as well as other buildings and many outdoor venues in Luray, which is in Russell County.
The Luray Craftique usually draws a large crowd, and this year’s pleasant fall weather brought almost 2,000 people to town. It’s a big deal for the residents of Luray, whose population is just north of 150.
“We never see that many people in one day,” said Monica Mullender, one of eight community members who organize the annual craft fair. “Seeing our little town flourish like this for one day is amazing.”
Everything about this event emits goodwill.
This year, more than 140 vendors signed up to peddle their wares, while shoppers were able to get a head-start on some Christmas shopping.
The admission fee was a non-perishable food item or a monetary donation that goes to the community food pantry.
Several food trucks or trailers offered a variety of food and drinks for shoppers. And this year, Todd Schneider from nearby Paradise brought his trolley to town to help transport folks to various drop-off points.
“That helped so much,” Mullender said. “He had five different stops for people who couldn’t walk all over town, so this was a plus. And 1,500 or more people trying to park in our small town can get chaotic. Some can’t get a very close parking spot.”
Veteran shoppers could be spotted from a block away, pushing or pulling wagons with their purchases.
Some folks said they came just to browse, enjoying the pleasant fall weather.
The booths featured items that ranged from any homemade craft imaginable to food items such as jellies and honey or pumpkins and everything in between.
However, this craft fair isn’t limited to homemade items.
“Pretty much everything goes,” Mullender said.
Vendors came from all over Kansas and even from other states.
A Wisconsin resident who visits the area to hunt every year began bringing a cooler of cheese to the craft show a couple of years ago.
This year, Mullender said he quadrupled that amount and still sold out by 1 p.m.
“It’s always an exciting day for our town,” she said. “We love having all these people in our community.”
Mullender said the craft fair got its start about six or seven years ago when community members were trying to come up with ways to increase items for the town food pantry.
“It was small that first year,” she said. “There probably weren’t more than 15 booths. But we hoped it could grow.”
And grow it did.
From its humble beginning to today, the craft fair had 144 vendors register this year.
The event was re-named the Luray Craftique when it joined forces with Vesper’s antique show a couple of years ago. So, of course, some of the buildings in the downtown area now have antiques for sale.
“It’s nice to see people of all ages here,” Mullender said. “Some families meet here to shop for the day.”
It’s definitely a family affair for Mullender.
Her mom, Melinda Walker, helps at the food stand in the American Legion building along with her older sisters, Miranda Colglazier from Rush Center and Misty Bradley from Salina and some of their children.
Mullender and Colglazier have even opened their own small business in Luray – Trashy Treasures Sisters.
The name spawned from the idea of people giving Colglazier things they might otherwise be thrown away.
Keeping in mind that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, “she made it useful for someone else,” Mullender said.
Their treasures shop features items such as bath bombs and homemade soap – and anything that Colglazier might have refurbished.
Several of the craftique booths featured refurbished items, whether it be repurposed old furniture or yard art made from discarded farm tools.
“There is such a great variety,” Mullender said. “It’s fun to see some people making something out of nothing.”
Mullender said the committee is always thinking of ways to improve the craftique.
“We’ll have a wrap-up meeting this next week,” she said, “and after the first of the year, we’ll start all over for next year."