There will be something new in the air during the Arts & Crafts Fair at Calico Fort in Fort Deposit on Saturday and Sunday, April 9-10.

Celebrating 40 years, one of the oldest and largest arts and crafts shows in the South will include an Amateur Radio W4C Special Events Station this year.

Also, a group from the state of Washington will be giving a miniature logging demonstration, and 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 Scouts.

“We expect good crowds. It looks like the weather is going to be great,” said Frieda Cross, president of the Fort Deposit Arts Council, which sponsors the event.

She also said this year the event will have “lots of new exciting exhibitors.”

Exhibitors come from the Carolinas, Georgia, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Mississippi, New York, Louisiana, Florida and all over Alabama.

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

Cross also said there will be some good entertainment in the amphitheater and outstanding food.

Continuous entertainment in the amphitheater will include the Goat Hill String Band, the Southern Gentlemen Bluegrass Band, the Dixie Stompers clogging troupe, Ricky Fitzgerald (Hank Williams impersonator), the Blast from the Past oldies group with a Barney Fife impersonator, the Woodalls, and the Shebang Cloggers from Troy.

The arts and crafts fair includes art in all mediums, a variety of crafts and plants from the usual to the rare.

Food includes hamburgers, Polish dogs, funnel cakes, chicken fingers, fries, onion blossoms, barbecue chicken plates, barbecue sandwiches, roasted corn, foot long corn dogs, homemade ice cream and apple dumplings. There will also be sweets, cotton candy, Dinky Donuts, popcorn, cold drinks and hot coffee.

Fort Deposit is located off Interstate 65. Take the Calico Fort Exit 142 and follow the signs when you arrive in Fort Deposit.

Proceeds go to charitable organizations including the Fort Deposit Fire Department.

Event hours are from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Admission is $4 for adults and $1 for children.