Last Updated on September 19, 2023 3:50 pm
VALLE CRUCIS, NC — “The Fair was an idea that came from our beloved Polly Capps,”
said Dedy Traver, a Holy Cross Church member and worker bee for the first Fair. “A small
group of parishioners sat on the porch of Bob & Polly Capps' house to do some
brainstorming. Whenever Polly came up with an idea, we knew it would happen AND we
would have to work!”
What began 45 years ago as a fundraiser for the Holy Cross Church Building Fund
became a regional event that is as colorful as the surrounding Autumn hillsides.
The first year it was a small event. It was held at the Valle Crucis Apple Barn and featured
a pig pickin’ lunch, freshly pressed apple cider, and a square dance with a cakewalk that
evening. Amazingly, the event was pulled off by the 35 members of the church. All the
proceeds that year went to build a parish hall for Holy Cross Church. Since the second
year, all proceeds have been given back to the community.
“We felt we had given to ourselves once; thereafter, the fruits of our labors should go to
helping other people,” explained Traver. According to Holy Cross Church records, over
one million dollars ($1,000,000,000) in net proceeds raised by the Valle Country Fair have
gone to local community support since 1978. That amount includes grants to 122 different
agencies throughout the High Country, as well as to emergency funding for thousands of
individuals and families experiencing financial hardships.
Funds are generated by food booths operated by the church members and from the
approximately 150 arts and crafts exhibitors who pay fees to participate. “Exhibitors
donate 10 percent of their earnings from sales at the Fair to help people in need in this
area,” said Exhibitor Co-Chair Suzie Long. “Everyone who purchase hand-made crafts,
home-cooked food, apple butter, baked goods, jams and jellies is lending a hand to folks
that need our support. “
The whole community pitches in to make the Fair a success. Each year, performers
including cloggers, storytellers, square dancers, musicians, and more contribute their
talents for the enjoyment of fair goers. Skyline Communications sets up a cyber network
that connects 140 crafts booths and two dozen food booths to the Internet, enabling
sellers to accept credit cards. The Children's Council organizes games and activities for
children, the Boy Scouts manage trash removal and teenagers from the Western Youth
Network and Mountain Alliance haul decorations and equipment from storage to the
fairgrounds and back to storage again.
“It takes every member of our church, plus friends, to pull together the event,” said Fair
Chairman Gustav Gauss. “That’s over 200 people – from Dedy Traver standing up on
Sunday morning to remind everyone it is time to make jams & jellies to the volunteers
from the Valle Crucis Conference Center who help with parking on the day of the Fair.
“The success of the Fair is people helping people from the heart,” Gauss said. “This year
the Valle Country Fair will celebrate 45 years having raised over $1 million to help others.
Everyone should have joy in their hearts.”
The single-day harvest festival is held in a large hayfield located alongside NC Highway
194 between Valle Crucis and Banner Elk. Admission to the Valle Country Fair is FREE
and parking is available in the adjoining field for $10 per car, $25 for a small bus or van,
and $50 for a motor coach. NO PETS are allowed.
Media sponsors for VCF 2023 are Curtis Media Group and Mountain Times Publications.
The event is produced by Holy Cross Episcopal Church in cooperation with the Valle
Crucis Conference Center. Proceeds are used to provide grants to local non-profit
organizations, and relief to local families with emergency needs. For more information,
contact Holy Cross Church at 828-963-4609 or visit the Fair on the Web at
www.vallecountryfair.org.
The Valle Country Fair has grown into a large, but well organized, community celebration over the 45 years since it was started to raise funds for a small country church. Always held on the third Saturday in October (October 21, 2023), the Valle Country Fair has raised over $1 million for local charities through the years. (Photo by Charlie Czermak)
Guests at the Valle Country Fair enjoy the sounds of bluegrass, country and traditional mountain music performed by half a dozen local bands such as homegrown songwriter Brooks Forsyth of Boone. (Photo by Catherine Morton)
Patrons return to the Valle Country Fair year after year to do their Christmas shopping in the colorful tents of 140 Arts & Crafts exhibitors. Fair sponsors require that all work be original in design and concept, and that it be handcrafted or artistically crafted by the exhibitor. This process ensures that shoppers have the greatest variety of one-of-a-kind products to choose between. (Photo by Karen Lehmann)
