A Bazaar Day in Saratoga

With just 45 days until Christmas, the annual Saratoga Holiday Bazaar returned to the Platte Valley Community Center on November 9.

It seemed the perfect day for it. A heavy, wet snow was falling on the Valley as residents throughout Carbon County made their way around the Great Hall to see what wares area vendors had to offer. The obvious attractions, it seemed, were Pure Dixie—owned by Dixie Berger and her husband, Kirby—and the quaint creations of Mary Hohnholt. Other local vendors included Dee Dee Martz, Dick Perue, the Snowy Range Cattle Women, Sweet Marie’s Bakeshop and others.

According to organizer Lisa Burton, the Saratoga Holiday Bazaar is an important part of shopping locally. Especially for those vendors who may not have a storefront like the businesses in Saratoga’s downtown.

“It gives the local vendors a chance to display their wares and let people know what’s available in the Valley,” said Burton.

Burton has played some part in organizing the annual bazaar for three decades. She first helped organize the event for the Xi Beta Epsilon sorority, a group of civic minded and community minded women. Eventually, however, the Saratoga chapter of the sorority disbanded.

“When the chapter disbanded, I took it over and got the school groups involved to help me do it,” said Burton. “This year, the main one [group] is the FCCLA (Family Career and Community Leaders of America). They are fundraising for their national trips and state convention.”

Another school group which has been involved with organizing and running the annual bazaar is the Saratoga World Culture Club. For both groups, the entry fee of 25 cents goes towards fundraising. So, too, does a raffle held at the bazaar each year along with the concessions—red chili and cinnamon rolls—served to patrons and vendors.

According to Burton, since enlisting the help of high school groups, the way the event is organized has changed compared to when it was run by the sorority.

“I’ve taken on more of the management of it. Securing the facility, getting the advertising in addition to the tables, in addition to having a school group do the concessions,” said Burton.

“They’re good. I direct them and let them know what needs to be done. They’re very helpful.”

Along with the change in who helps organize the event, the event has also had to change locations. For several years, it was held in the multipurpose of Saratoga Middle High School.

“Then it just outgrew that facility and that’s when we ended up here at the [Platte Valley] Community Center,” said Burton.

Despite the late-fall storm and the Friends of the Needy Bazaar taking place on the same day in Rawlins, the Saratoga Holiday Bazaar appeared to have a good turnout. Burton said she had three vendors who were unable to make it on November 9, primarily due to the weather and road conditions. She said she was low on vendors compared to previous years, which she attributed to the bazaar in Rawlins.

It didn’t seem to bother either the other vendors or the patrons, many of whom took several laps around the tables in the Great Hall.