The Prairie City Fiber Fest continued in 2020 by following state guidelines for health rules and crowd size. It returns to Prairie City for the third year July 23-25.

PRAIRIE CITY – Needles up!

Prairie City Fiber Fest 2021 comes to town Friday through Sunday, July 23-25. The popular event, which celebrates everything fiber-related, will feature workshops, vendors, handcrafted items and demonstrations.

This is the third year for Fiber Fest, which draws vendors, instructors and participants from near and far. Thirty vendors from Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Nevada are on the agenda. Some are new and several have attended Fiber Fest every year.

Eager crafters can look forward to 10 workshops on a variety of projects such as pine needle basketry, natural dyes, gourd art, beginning crochet, felted items and more. Workshops will be held all three days at various times and locations throughout town.

Vendors will set up on Friday, and be open for sales Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

It was PCFF director Ginger Shive who first had the idea for the event. However, Shive quickly gives due credit for continued success to the PCFF board, “the true heroes carrying this off!” she said. Other board members are Trish Lindaman, Nancy Harris, Taci Philbrook, Eloise Boren, Anna Smith and Taren Hamilton.

After moving to Prairie City seven years ago, Shive — a spinner and weaver for more than 55 years — continued traveling across the state to attend another fiber festival. Wishing there could be such an event closer to home, she approached the Grant County Economic Development office, which fully supported the venture.

Fiber Fest was a hit from the start. In its inaugural year, 2019, a whopping 22 vendors signed up and nine workshops were offered. The 2020 Fiber Fest was also a huge success, proving that not even a pandemic could unravel the plans and perseverance of organizers and attendees.

Regarding last year’s accomplishment, Shive points again to the PCFF board, who kept in constant communication with the city, county and state as regulations changed almost daily.

“The vendors and instructors all embraced our efforts and we had no complaints from them or any of the shoppers,” Shive said.

Surprise drop-ins from Prairie City Mayor Jim Hamsher doing head counts proved the event was following COVID-19 guidelines, according to Shive.

“It was hard work,” she said, “but the board just buckled down and we got it done.”

This year, livestock will make an appearance for the first time — Scottish Blackface ewes and F1 Valais lambs, a breed from Switzerland rarely seen in the U.S., Shive said.

Proceeds support Grant County 4-H and FFA youth, with a scholarship and educational plan in the works. Shive said the PCFF would like to provide three $1,000 scholarships for graduating FFA seniors, to be awarded in 2022.

Fiber Fest is vibrant, strong, growing and diversified. Its continued presence in Prairie City seems certain, too.

“The city has locked us in on the park until at least 2024,” Shive said.

A “Ewenique Social Hour” for vendors, instructors and volunteers will be held from 5-7 p.m. Saturday.

Volunteers are still urgently needed for this year’s event. To help, contact the group at pcff2019@gmail.com.

Fiber Fest hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. For lists of vendors and workshops and an event schedule, visit www.prairiecityfiberfest.com or check out the PCFF Facebook page.