Bazaar has new vendors, organizer

Nealry 60 vendors will welcome community members at the Sanders County Christmas Bazaar this Saturday at Thompson Falls High School. The bazaar will feature lots of new vendors, said organizer Tracy Ward, as well as some people who have been vendors since the 1970s.

Ward, a 1982 graduate of Thompson Falls High School, was a vendor with her mother Ginger in years past, offering a variety of quilted items including wall hangings, stockings, table runners and handcrafted ornaments. Ward said she reached out on social media to get informaiton about this year's bazaar, but when no one had heard any information, she decided to step up and ensure the event would happen. She said she went on the Secretary of State's webstie and saw that the registered name was inactive, and took steps to "put the building blocks back together to make it happen." She reached out to former vendors and is now ready for her first event as the organizer.

Along with new vendors, Ward stated that there were will be a food truck and a vendor with coffee and hot cocoa outside the high school gymnasium during the bazaar, which will run 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

The Thompson Falls High School senior class will also be operating the concession stand in the commons area.

Ward said local 4-H members, as well as some of her family members, will be helping her the day of the event. "We're starting from scratch, finding vendors and rebuilding the floor design, but I've had so much support, not just from the vendors but from everyone in the community," Ward expressed. "It's been incredible." She added that some vendors are actually sharing space to make sure there is room for everyone.

The Sanders County Christmas Bazaar supports the Sheriff's Relief Fund, and Ward stated that 10% of each vendor's sales will be donated to the local organization. Vendors also donate door prizes, which are awarded throughout the day.

When asked what she loves about the longstanding community event, Ward stated that it's the love that people have, both the community and vendors. "Everyone is so wonderful and caring. Everyone is so good hearted."

Ward said there are some new and interesting vendors this year. Along with the food vendors, Dave McClenahan from Plains will have his jams and jellies, and there are vendors with 3-D printed items, wooden toys, ornaments, quilted items and much more.