TOWAMENCIN – Attracting artist and customers from the area, North Penn’s November Craft Show celebrated its 54^nd event  Saturday at North Penn High School.  Artists coming from near and far started setting up their booths Friday night, and the cafeteria tables were swapped out for craft displays. Both artists and volunteers were busy setting up in order to be ready by 7am the following morning.

“This is our 28^th year doing it and 54^th show,” stated International Friendship Committee (IFC) member, Ted Knauss, “and there are a couple people who have done the show almost every single time.”

The IFC organizes and hosts two shows annually, one in November and one in March.

Mr. Knauss explained that, “This is our 54^th show here, and we have two shows a year:  one here in November and in March, and this is how we support the exchange program. The money raised from this is our [the IFC’s] sole source of income in giving scholarships and opportunities to students, so this is our fundraiser.”

The IFC is in charge of North Penn’s exchange program so the craft show benefits the school and exchange students financially. Each artist is allotted a booth, and the dimension of that booth is based on price. Plus, with a small entrance fee for patrons, the craft show proves to be very lucrative for the IFC.

 “In addition to that, this show brings a lot of class to North Penn.” Mr. Knauss continued, “This is a very high-class show, and it is one of the better shows in the area, in the whole of South-Eastern Pennsylvania. High class artists and some of the best around come to this show.”

Not only does the event showcase high end art, as handmade bowls, painted silk, unique house utensils, high-end jewelry, and carved sculptures were on exhibit, but North Penn was also on display according to the insight of Mr. Knauss:

“People all around the area and other states know North Penn because they come to this show. We showcase the high school. It was transformed from a cafeteria into something really unique.”

“It’s good for everyone,” he continued, “not only us because we earn money for the program, but we also showcase some wonderful artists, too.”

The IFC is very proud and pleased to report that turn-out was good, and the November show was a success.

“Our November show always has a better turn-out than our March show,” Mr. Knauss shared. “The reason for that is because it is a holiday show and people are shopping for gifts and things. People are in a shopping mood in the holiday season.”

However, turn-out evidently remains consistent year to year as Knauss said. “We do get a lot of new customers each year, but there are a lot of people who follow the show and keep coming year after year. The attendance is about the same.”