Special to the Signal

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

Calico Fort is sponsored by the Fort Deposit Arts Council with all the proceeds going to local charitable organizations, including the volunteer fire department.

This year’s event will feature more than 125 exhibitors with handmade arts and crafts that are imaginative,
beautiful and useful.

According to information provided by the Fort Deposit Arts Council, exhibitors from the Carolinas, Georgia,
Wisconsin, Tennessee, Mississippi, New York, Louisiana, Florida and every part of 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 be back this year. Also returning will be the group from the state of Washington giving a miniature logging demonstration. And once again, 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 Scouts.

The children’s special area has been enlarged and will include pony rides, clowns, face painting, a rock
climbing wall, petting zoo, puppeteers and other exhibitors whose talents the little ones will enjoy.

The popular covered front porch is primarily for the seniors. The porch is wheelchair accessible with a few
rocking chairs to enjoy swapping stories with old and new friends or watch the entertainment in the amphitheater.

Continuous entertainment both days in the natural amphitheater will feature the Goat Hill String Band, the
Southern Gentlemen Bluegrass Band, the oldies group, Blast from the Past, with a Barney Fife impersonator,
Prescott’s Still blue Grass Band and several vocalists including Scott Koehn, Brandon Self, Cade Tillery and
David Miller’s Music.

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

Fort Deposit is located 30 miles south of Montgomery and 15 miles north of Greenville, just off Interstate 65.
Signs will mark the route from the interstate into the fort.

The fun starts April 14th and 15th when 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.