One of the oldest, largest and most popular arts and crafts fairs in the south will be held for the 41st time April 14th and 15th at Calico Fort in Fort Deposit.

The Fort Deposit Arts Council sponsors the event.

“We have an outstanding list of exhibitors this year, a lot of new ones from all over the southeast,” said Frieda Cross, president of the arts council.

The air will be filled with the tantalizing aroma of hickory and pine, the smell of candles and herbs and the distant sound of happy chatter and laughter.

Exhibitors from North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Mississippi, New York, Louisiana, Florida and Alabama have been specially selected to represent the best artisans and craftsmen in their respective areas.

One can expect to find hand sewing, painted clothing, woodworking, leather goods, rattlesnake skin accessories, stained and beveled glass, pottery, garden statuary, wind chimes, toys of every sort, jewelry designers, pine needle and basket weaving, rockerless chairs, furniture in Cyprus, twig and vine, bird houses, oil, pen and ink, pastel art and plants of all kinds.

The Amateur Radio W4C Special Events Station will also be back this year.

The Butler County Humane Society will have a booth near Gate Six for puppy sitting for a fee.  Proceeds will benefit the Humane Society and the Boy Scouts.

Cross said a lot of people like to bring their pets to the fair, but they can’t bring them in. She said with the puppy-sitting booth they can drop their pets off and enjoy the fair.

The children’s special area has been enlarged and will feature pony rides, clowns, face painting, a rock climbing wall, petting zoo, puppeteers and other exhibitors.

There will be continuous entertainment, both days, in the Fort’s natural amphitheater.  Featured attractions include the Goat Hill String Band, the Southern Gentlemen bluegrass band, the oldies group Blast from the Past, Prescott’s Still blue grass band and several vocalists including Scott Koehn, Brandon Self, Cade Tillery and David Miller.

Cross said there will be some “wonderful food.”

There will be hand pulled bar-b-que, funnel cakes and homemade ice cream.  And the men and women of Fort Deposit will prepare hot dogs, hamburgers and sweet confections of every kind.

The gates open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.  Admission is $4 for adults and $1 for children.

All proceeds go to local charitable organizations including the Volunteer Fire Department.