After being cancelled last year due to the pandemic, the 45th annual MU Extension in Cole County Fall Festival is scheduled to be 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at the Jefferson City Jaycees Cole County Fairgrounds.
"There's a lot of excitement about our event coming back," said Lynda Zimmerman, county engagement specialist in nutrition and health. "Both the public and the vendors really missed it last year."
More than 140 vendors from Missouri and the surrounding states will be at the fairgrounds for the one-day event. Home-based businesses will be selling crafts and other items, such as: floral designs, jewelry, candles, yard art, furniture, baby items, cards, quilts, leather wallets and belts, baskets, handbags, scroll art, painted gourds, stepping stones, porcelain, candles, painted signs and more.
"Every year, there are always new things. Even if a vendor has been there many times, they usually bring new items and crafts," Zimmerman said. "The festival is a great place for people to find Christmas gifts. Because all of our vendors have to be home-based businesses, you find a lot of pure craftsman at our event. You don't find the types of things they're offering at stores, so it's great way to support those businesses."
Zimmerman said a lot of the vendors are from Cole County and other Mid-Missouri counties.
Admission is $3 for those 13 and older. There is no charge for children age 12 and younger. Food and beverages may be purchased at the event. Proceeds from the sales help support local MU Extension programs.
The 2019 festival brought in about $20,000, and nearly 4,000 people attended.
"It's our only fundraiser for the year, so people who come out can feel good about supporting extension programs that way," Zimmerman said. "It's become a tradition with many families where they have three generations that come and see what neat things they can find."