The Craft Fair returns to Beasley Coliseum for Mom’s Weekend to provide unique goods from local vendors.

The Craft Fair began 28 years ago and was started by Linda Gallagher along with her husband and daughter as a fundraiser. The event grew so much in popularity that they continue it today. Over the years, the fair’s location has shifted from the Armory downtown to a church basement before finally settling in Beasley Coliseum.

“It is like having a whole series of little shops where the items are hand-crafted, high quality, very individual and distinctive,” Gallagher said.

Vendors come from all over the Pacific Northwest, this fair being a destination for many of them. The wide range of vendors gives way to a larger variety of goods.

These goods include yard art, jewelry, woodwork and art among others. Some of the vendors offer up-cycled goods made from things like dishware.

One of these vendors is Jennifer Massie, a retired Pullman High School teacher who creates yard art from up-cycled materials she finds in thrift stores. In her booth “Sparkles!,” she uses dishware like plates and cups to create flowers.

“It’s good exposure for crafters and … it’s a way to make ends meet for my hobbies,” Massie said.

This is Massie’s fourth year participating in the fair, but Gallagher said some vendors have been with them since their start.

Out of the 150 applications she received, 106 vendors were chosen for this year’s craft fair, Gallagher said. Vendors are chosen and evenly spaced out for more variety and equal space.

“When we have setup, it’s kind of like a big family reunion,” she said.

Gallagher recommends the fair because of the variety of crafts. Many of the vendors are good with keeping up on current trends, and it’s also a good place to find unique gifts.

“It’s very inexpensive entertainment,” Massie said. “You don’t have to buy anything. You can just look and get ideas for things you can do at home.”

The Craft Fair will take place at Beasley Colisuem on Friday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Reporting by Catherine Kruse