Local vendors at Saturday’s Big Bad Bear Band Holiday Craft Show said the event was a success.
Dozens of vendors set up shop inside La Cueva High School, with booths filling the hallways and lining the main building.
Multiple vendors said the event brought them a lot of business. One vendor selling jewelry, who was donning a Veterans Helping Veterans T-shirt, was happy with the outcome toward the end of the show. “I sold a few big-ticket items earlier. Some going for $200,” he said.
Danielle S. was selling ornaments and coasters at her Craft Corner while customers browsed for items. When asked how business was going, she said, “Earlier it was packed wall-to-wall.”
At around 2 p.m., there was still a full parking lot and dozens of shoppers searching for the right holiday gift. Items for sale included everything from locally published books and hand-crafted art to tea and bath bombs.
Santa Claus was also spotted at the show taking pictures with kids, and live music was played by young musicians as visitors browsed the booths.
A look at what was for sale
More than crafts: Authors have presence, too
Kate McKeough was selling crystal hummingbirds, dreamcatchers and other artwork at the fair. Her work caught the eyes of several shoppers, with many making purchases after just a quick look. McKeough said she does not have a brick-and-mortar store and works out of the East Mountains, but her art can be found online at the SUNDREAMS™ website.
J.L. Greger, a local author who specialized in toxicology, was selling autographed books. One of her books, “The Flu is Coming”, was written before the COVID pandemic hit in late 2019. She said people were skeptical about some of the things she wrote in the book, but since the pandemic, have changed their tone.
Other books by Greger include “I Saw You in Beirut,” “A Pound of Flesh, Sorta” and “Dirty Holy Water.” Her books can be found at jlgreger.com and Amazon.
At another booth, autographed books by local author Antonio R. Garcez were being sold by his publisher, Hank Estrada of Red Rabbit Press. Estrada said the book “New Mexico Ghost Stories Vol. 1” includes stories about ghosts and other apparitions in Las Cruces, Albuquerque and Santa Fe, while volume two includes stories from smaller New Mexico towns like Mountainair.
Other books by Garcez include “Gay and Lesbian Ghost Stories,” “American Indian Ghost Stories of the West” and “Ghost Stories of the Medical Profession.” Estrada said the author is familiar with Mescalero traditions and culture.
Garcez, who was not at the craft show, is quoted on the website Ghost Book Biz as saying, “My parents were healers who were able to draw upon the after-death sphere. As a child, I accompanied them on their frequent visits to households blemished by the misfortunes of illness or the troubles of misguided spirits. Through this personal apprenticeship, I witnessed both the positive and negative aspects of spirits.”
Garcez’ books can be found at Ghost Book Biz, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Walmart.
Abby Parten, La Cueva Band Booster president and craft show organizer, did not immediately respond to a request for information about the show.