Christmas is right around the corner and if you’re thinking to yourself, “I don’t have any gifts,” the Millcreek Education Foundation (MEF) has you covered. During the weekend of Dec. 6 and 7, MEF will be hosting the annual Schoolhouse Craft Festival at McDowell Intermediate High School, 3320 Caughey Road. Kris Huber, executive director of MEF, said the craft event has been around for more than 30 years, but MEF didn’t take control over it until 2020. The craft festival offers so much for people to do. The show features over 100 unique crafters and artisans representing small, locally owned businesses. Almost all of them have their own Etsy shops. However this year MEF has added a new local chain among the sellers.
“This year, we’ve added something special and it’s kind of unusual. Nothing Bundt Cakes had reached out to me and asked if they could have a booth,” Huber said. This is very unusual because the craft festival is traditionally for small business vendors. Huber welcomed Nothing Bundt Cakes because the bakery offered to give 20% of its sales to the McDowell Marching Band bake sale. “In past years the marching band sells [out] so quickly and they have to go home and bake all night,” Huber said. With the addition of Nothing Bundt Cakes along side the bake sale, it will help to keep the baked goods stocked.
The craft festival also offers concessions provided by the McDowell PTA. They will offer pre-packaged foods and drinks for guests to enjoy while they shop. Vendors and food aren’t just the only thing the craft festival has to offer. While guests are shopping, they get to enjoy music from McDowell students that will put them in a holiday mood. The Vox Collective, Jazz Band, and Orchestra will all be performing classic Christmas songs throughout the event. All the money raised from the admission cost of $5 per person will go towards MEF initiatives. Last year MEF gave away $80,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors. MEF also offers grants to Millcreek teachers who are looking to add something new to their classrooms. Students in need of volunteer hours can stay after school on Fri. Dec. 6 to set up or come at 3 p.m. on Sun. Dec. 7 to clean up. Questions about volunteering can be directed to Huber at [email protected]. The MEF Schoolhouse Craft Festival runs Sat., Dec. 6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sun., Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m at McDowell Intermediate High School, 3320 Caughey Road. Admission is $5 per person. 
