Harmon organizes End of Summer Vendor Fair set for last Saturday in July

Owensboro’s Claire Harmon recognized a need for more vendor-focused and family-friendly events in the community, so she decided to host an End of Summer Vendor Fair as a way for vendors and families to begin to transition into Back to School season.

“I think it’s important to give new start-up vendor businesses a way to get started, and get their products out into the community,” Harmon said. “And the community doesn’t really have cost-friendly local events that kind of kick off the Back to School season, so why not get everyone together for one last big fling?”

The End of Summer Vendor Fair is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 27, at the National Guard Armory, 3300 Tamarack Road.

Harmon, who has her own vendor business, Face Painting by Claire, said that she recognizes how important low-cost events are for those vendor businesses that are just getting started.

“I thought that I could organize a way to help these vendors get their names out there to the community and make it a family-friendly, low-cost event for the entire community,” she said.

Almost 50 different vendors have signed up to sell their craft items, baked goods and services including Face Painting by Claire, Cooper’s Crystals, representatives from Pampered Chef, Dr. Popper’s Entertainment, a vendor providing free balloon animals for the kids in attendance, though tips are welcome, Cop a Pop Cake Popz, The Perfect Fit, Glitter and Glam by Melissa, representatives from Paparazzi Jewelry, Red Aspen Nails and Tupperware, Tastefully Simple and CatDaddy Custom Engraving to name a few. A full list of vendors can be found on the event’s Facebook event’s page, Owensboro End of Summer Vendor Fair.

“There’s something for everyone,” Harmon said.

Food trucks such as Torera Hibachi, Lyric’s Ahhh La Carte, J’s Good Grub and Uncle G’s Lemon Smashers will also be set up at the vendor event.

“We’re also proudly offering so many free activities for the kids,” Harmon said.

Some of those activities include jumbo versions of Jenga and Connect Four provided by Melanin Children Matter, the ballon animals, magic tricks by magician Terry Broshears, along with bouncy houses provided by Oh Deer Designs and face painting through Face Painting by Claire.

“We also invited some non-profit organizations the opportunity to set up booths to help showcase what those organizations can provide for members of the community while providing other fun activities for the kids,” she said.

“We also asked representatives from the Owensboro Police Department (OPD) and Owensboro Fire Department (OFD) to set up vehicles and chat with the kids.”

OPD will be bringing the D.A.R.E. vehicle out to the fair and the OFD has scheduled a fire truck to appear at the event.

“My husband, musician Eric Harmon, and some of his friends will also be playing family-friend music,” Harmon said.

Harmon said that she knows that times are tough, so families can struggle locating affordable entertainment and that’s another reason why the vendor fair is important for the community.

“Summer vacations are great if you can afford them, but not everyone can, so events like the vendor fair are a great alternative. And everyone can just kind of one last dose of fun before school starts back,” she said.

More information about the event can be found on the event page on Facebook, Owensboro End of Summer Vendor Fair.