ORIGINALLY WRITTEN STAFF
In response to requests from exhibitors at the annual Hillsboro Arts & Crafts Fair, the long-standing Saturday-morning set-up policy for booths will change next year.
The fair association will allow exhibitors to set up Friday, beginning at 8 p.m. Since the fair’s beginning, exhibitors have not been allowed to set up until after 5 a.m. Saturday.
“Many exhibitors find the work of setting up, being at the fair all day and taking down their booth in one day to be too exhausting,”said Donna Diener, fair director.
The congestion of Saturday’s traffic and the length of time exhibitors have to wait to unload early in the morning makes for a long day, she said.
The city council, after consultation with the mayor, city manager, fire chief and chief of police, agreed to block off the downtown area at 7 p.m. Friday, Diener said.
Volunteers will mark booth spaces Friday afternoon, and restaurant customers after 7 p.m. would be able to park along side streets and behind the city building, she said, adding that food concession booths would be allowed to set up before 8 p.m.
“We greatly appreciate all the cooperation and support we receive from the downtown businesses in regard to the Arts & Crafts Fair,” Diener said.
