Ottawa's Kiwanis Club staged its first Holiday Craft Show at the elementary school, bringing roughly 40 vendors together for Putnam County shoppers looking to get an early jump on Christmas.
Offerings included baked goods, candles, gifts and holiday merchandise. According to organizers, the format let visitors talk with local sellers, learn how their goods are made and spend their money close to home.
Recruiting for the inaugural show began later than planned, said Kiley Rutzler of Event Pro Connections, but vendors responded with enthusiasm. She said interest in an Ottawa show had been building for about two years and that the event was deliberately built around a holiday theme.
Proceeds are designated for the Kiwanis Club's work on behalf of area children. Krista Hughes of the Ottawa Kiwanis Club described fundraisers and donations that flow to Ottawa organizations, listing the Boy Scouts, Christmas assistance for children and Habitat for Humanity among the recipients.
Club members said they want the show to become a recurring community tradition.