The Medora Community Center hosts the 42nd annual Medora Craft Fair

MEDORA, N.D. — Forty-six vendors from North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana gathered at the Medora Community Center on Saturday to participate in the 42nd annual Medora Craft Fair. The community center was lined with booths featuring a number of local artisans and small businesses, as well as a dense crowd bouncing between displays. Products for sale ranged from homemade lefse and candies to carefully curated selections of Christmas decorations and handmade jewelry.

Milo Thompson, who has been hosting the event for forty years, says that the Craft Fair reliably drives plenty of traffic towards the Medora area during a time of year when tourism is relatively quiet. Local shops that close during the off-season were even able to open for business on Saturday thanks to the long-running event.

“There’s lots of things for everybody to do, for the kids and for the parents, too. It has evolved into a great day,” said Thompson.

Olivia Feddeler / The Dickinson Press

Over the years, according to Thompson, the event has grown significantly. Most vendors choose to come back, and Thompson works hard each year to get seven to eight new booths in the door.

One of such new businesses was Wood n Woven, of Terry, MT. Angela Therrien, who is in the weaving business alongside her mother, said that one of their goals for the year was to bring their booth to more fairs, and the Medora Craft Fair turned out to be a successful event for them.

In more recent years, Thompson said the event’s proceeds have gone to support local charities and non-profits, such as local medical benefits and school fundraisers.

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