BETHEL — There weren’t any mad rushes on Black Friday for 42-inch flat-screen televisions at the Local Crafts and Wares Fair at The Bethel Inn Resort Conference Center.

Instead, hundreds of people of all ages shopped for handmade crafts and goods by 35 Maine and New Hampshire artisans. 

Many vendors said business was booming during the seven-hour event, one of the last local fairs before Christmas. Temperatures outside were in the teens to low 20s.

“There were no stampedes, just a steady crowd,” Jessie Perkins of the Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce said. “It was cold outside this morning, so there was no line at the door.”

Julia Reuter, also of the Chamber, said the vendors “have a very nice selection of items and everything is handmade.”

“They have everything from jewelry to scented oils to salad dressings and mittens galore,” Perkins said.

She described the annual event — Bethel’s answer to Black Friday madness — as “a good meet-and-greet kind of event.”

Wendy Newmeyer, owner of Maine Balsam Fir Products, said business was brisk all day long. She was selling balsam fir pillows featuring wildlife paintings and designs of various sizes, neck pillows, draft stoppers, balsam fir oil and organic catnip.

Catnip toys made of colorful squares of fabric filled with catnip were a big hit with the crowd. Newmeyer brought four dozen catnip bags to the 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. event and had sold three dozen by about 2 p.m. One woman bought some to give as Christmas presents to a neighbor’s cats as well as her own. 

Newmeyer said one woman came in earlier in the day from North Carolina and said that her son had called her and told her to make sure she got some of her catnip toys.

Customer Susan Owens of Bethel bought a large cat pillow stuffed with balsam. She said the wares fair was her only shopping venture for Black Friday.

She was asked about whether she preferred to shop locally for her holiday gifts. 

“Oh, absolutely,” Owens said. “Buy local. It’s wonderful because it’s so close to home.”

Quilter artist Cindy Graffi of Colebrook, N.H., said business was steady and came in spurts.

“It was a good buying crowd,” she said.

Graffi said the Bethel fair was her next-to-last show this year.

“Next week, I’ll be in Rumford and that will be it until next July, when I’ll be back in Bethel for the MollyOckett Festival,” she said.

Basket artisan Diane Blake, also of Colebrook, agreed with Graffi’s assessment.

“It’s been very good today,” she said of business. “The crowd has been pretty decent, even though it’s so cold out.”

Artist and sculptor Laurie Babineau of Hartford said business at her booth was a bit slow. She was selling crocheted owls, polymer-clay ornaments, monster critters and a wooden sculpture made of hardwood called “Tree Pants”—a smaller version than her 5-foot- to 12-foot-tall versions.

“Owls are very popular this year,” Babineau said. “I sold out of my owl ornaments today. That’s why it’s important to give your kids Play-Doh when they’re young, because they grow up to do this.”

A lady selling handmade mittens across from Babineau was mostly cleaned out of wares by about 2 p.m.

Nature-made crafts and jewelry artisan Melody Holmquist of Mexico was selling ornaments and large, white birch-garbed snowmen and women.

“Today is the best it’s been since spring,” Holmquist said. “Today has been a great day.”

The fair was also Bethel’s kickoff for its Country Christmas series of events that run from Nov. 29 through Christmas Eve.

Upcoming events include a Holiday Open House at Harvest Gold Gallery from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 30, at 1082 Main St. (Route 5) in Center Lovell. People can meet the artists and participate in a book-signing.

Saturday is also Small Business Saturday. People can shop with local businesses, which is a nationwide movement. Look for blue balloons and welcome mats at participating businesses.

On Sunday, Dec. 1, there will be a Rotary Country Breakfast from 7:30 to 11 a.m. at Ordway Hall, Gould Academy on Church Street in Bethel. It benefits community scholarships and projects. Cost is $8 for adults, $3 for children.

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