By Elinor Tinsley
As promised last week we’re back with more pictures and more fun facts about this year’s Fall Arts & Crafts Fair 2026, presented by the Bolivar Peninsula Cultural Foundation on Saturday 19, 2026 If you saw a little blonde lady taking pictures everywhere and didn’t see your picture posted, hopefully you’ll see it here. On the third Saturday of each September, the Cultural Foundation has been presenting this event for many years. This year was our biggest event with 47 vendor spots sold and more than 400 shoppers and guests. The Bolivar Peninsula Cultural Foundation’s mission is to preserve and honor the art, history and music of Bolivar Peninsula and this event checked all of those boxes. From the hundreds of items that are artistically created by our vendors, to the tradition of hosting this event to the great local band, The Girl Band 2.0, we try to have something for everyone. We again want to thank our vendors, volunteers and especially the shoppers and guests that attended this year’s event.
This is not a big money maker for the Cultural Foundation but we hope it is a big one for all of our vendors. There has been almost 100% positive feedback from our vendors and customers alike with a few exceptions, which you will have at every event this size. The Cultural Foundation’s goal is to break even after the many expenses of the day have been paid and donations have been given out. This year the Cultural Foundation presented a check for $500 to High Island High School for their drama department, specifically for their One Act Play, which they perform at UI competition.
Other regular donations are made to the Bolivar Peninsula Charities and to the Sheriff’s Dept. widows and children’s fund for a thank you for Officer Peña. Drinks, dumpsters, port-o-pots and a slew of other expenses are things you never see, but have to be paid and “If you wanna dance, you gotta pay the band’ so we can’t forget them The Cultural Foundation cleared more this year than in years past thanks to the number of vendors and the great raffle and silent auction items we received. Mark your calendar for next year September 18, 2027 for next year’s Bolivar Peninsula Cultural Foundation’s annual Fall Arts & Crafts Fair.
Just a reminder, there will not be a Christmas Market on Bolivar the Saturday after Thanksgiving, so if you want an opportunity to shop unique items for Christmas or holiday gifts, or you are a vendor wanting to sell some of these items, there is a great event called Eagles Trade Days that will be help on Veteran’s Saturday, November 7, 2026 from 10 – 3. There will be lots of tables upstairs and downstairs with wonderful items, a free lunch if you’re a veteran, plates available for sale if you’re not and a bake sale presented by the Eagles Women’s Auxiliary. Contact Renee Montalvo at 409-960-9185 for more information and let’s support our Eagles and the Peninsula!
