Erin Keane, of Plainfield and of Willow Chic Designs, at the Stagg Craft Show. (Photos by Kelly White)

The Stagg High School Music Boosters Fall Craft Show buzzed with shoppers this past weekend as nearly 200 crafters and vendors fill the halls of A.A. Stagg High School.

The two-day event at 8015 W. 111th St., took place on Saturday, November 15, and on Sunday, November 16, and offered handmade gifts, seasonal crafts, Christmas décor, artwork, treats and other specialty items as crowds continued to stream in.

Julie Lowis, of Deerfield and of Bags, Tags and Beond. (Photo by Kelly White)

For the past 22 years, the show has been organized by the Stagg High School Music Boosters Club. Its longtime coordinators, Patty Winker, of Worth, and Karen Lencioni, of Palos Park, have turned the fall and spring craft fairs into major fundraisers supporting student musicians.

“We started running the show when our children were in the music department here at Stagg,” Winker said. “The fees had gotten so expensive, and as a single mom, I tried to think of ways we could help with that.”

Both Winker and Lencioni, who still keep their own booths at the fair, have watched the event grow year after year. This weekend marked the 43rd annual craft show with 196 vendors.

“This is the largest show we’ve had so far,” Lencioni said.

Volunteers, parents and students helped to manage the event, which continued to draw families, alumni and longtime shoppers eager to support the school’s music programs.

Stagg High School hosts its largest Fall Craft Show with seasonal crafts, Christmas décor and 196 vendors supporting student musicians through the annual fundraiser.
Don Alberts, of Shorewood and of Creative Designs.
Kerry Thome, of Minooka and of What Makes Your Heart Melt.
Sandy Newquist, of Homewood and of KSN Creations.
Stagg High School hosts its largest Fall Craft Show with seasonal crafts, Christmas décor and 196 vendors supporting student musicians through the annual fundraiser.