Organizers estimated that around 500 people came to the fair before noon, and they expected between 800 and 1,000 people by the end of the day.

The event provided an opportunity for people to get ahead of their holiday shopping while supporting local artists and vendors. There were a total of 83 vending tables for people to browse. Popular items included candles, mugs, handmade winter apparel and woodwork.

The fair was organized by NCCC’s Athletic Facilities Director and women’s basketball head coach Jerrad Dumont. He has been organizing the event every year since 2011, except for 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. He said attendance — from vendors and shoppers — was robust and enthusiastic on Sunday.

“We didn’t run it during COVID and once we brought it back, it was a little slower at first, but it’s really come back strong this year,” Dumont said. “We had about 30 vendors on our waitlist going into the event.”

Riley and Makayla Shantie smile next to their table: Wick’d Sisters Homemade Candles at the NCCC Holiday Craft Fair in Saranac Lake on Sunday. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

Dumont said that between coordinating with vendors, advertising to the public and making sure the space is ready for the event, organizing takes up “quite a bit of time” starting months in advance.

“It’s nice to look back on all the work that you put in throughout the year, then you get to this event and it’s full of people, everyone’s happy and excited and it runs smoothly,” he said.

Many in attendance have been coming back year-after-year. For some, like Chrissy Smith of Saranac Lake, it was a new experience. She and her kids said they were most excited about checking out a Christmas gnomes table.

“I hadn’t been to this fair yet, so I was really excited about coming to see it for the first time,” she said.

Mary Daniels, the owner of Mary’s Bags and Baskets, said it was her first year as a vendor. She was joined at her table by two of her grandchildren, Lydia and Mallory. She said the trio was excited about how many people had stopped by.

Sisters Karen Hanna, Carmen Sherwin and Pat Underwood benind their vendor table at the NCCC Holiday Craft Fair in Saranac Lake on Sunday. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

“It’s been a successful morning so far with what we’ve been able to sell,” she said. “People are just happy to be here. It’s a fun atmosphere.”

Funds from the fair help to offset some NCCC athletic department costs, according to Dumont. He said the school was planning on doing another induction into its athletics Hall of Fame next year, which some of the proceeds raised on Sunday will help cover.

“We usually throw a barbecue for our alumni that come back for that (induction ceremony), so this definitely helps us continue to provide fun programming like that,” he said.

Mike Severance is decked out for the holidays behind his vendor’s table, Beary Best Brittle, at the NCCC Holiday Craft Fair in Saranac Lake on Sunday. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)