We are grateful to the crafters who make this show successful. Some are old friends who return each year. Some are new friends who are with us for the first time. We hope they plan to return next year. Without them there would be no show.
Slidell Newcomers' Club has sponsored Sell-A-Bration Arts and Craft Show for the past 28 years. We started as a 1 day event with mostly "tasting tables" with crafts tables - not booths - as an afterthought.
In 1990 we became a 2 day event with only craft booths. For 18 years we were a 2 day event in the Slidell Auditorium with 10 ft x 10 ft booths both inside and outside with very limited electrical connections. We could only fit about 40 crafters inside and the others were in a blocked off street outside.
Now that we have moved to the Northshore Harbor Center we have room to host more crafters and are able to offer 3 sizes of booths - 10 x 10, 10 x 15 and 10 x 20 - all inside - and offering tables with skirting, electricity and phone lines if requested.
In 2008 we had 51 crafters, in mostly 10 x 10 booths, and were thrilled with our success. Imagine our happiness in 2009 when we had 70 crafters, several in 10 x 15 and 10 x 20 booths!
We have set up times for the crafters on Friday afternoon from 3 PM until 6 PM and again Saturday morning from 8 AM to 10 AM. Our show is open on Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM and on Sunday form 11 AM to 4 PM.
A local caterer is set up in the lobby of the Northshore Harbor Center with such foods as hot dogs, nachos, jambalaya, chilli and drinks. Slidell Newcomers' Club holds a raffle with several baskets and other items with the drawings held Sunday around 3:45 PM. We hold the right to have the only raffle in the show.
Our crafters who return each year tell us that we are one of the friendliest shows they do. We usually provide coffee and donuts to the venders on Saturday morning and offer assistance if it is needed whether it is loading into the Center or simply "holding the fort" for a single crafter while they take a much needed break.