BUCKHANNON – Student groups at Buckhannon-Upshur High School will offer unique handmade Christmas items and gifts at an upcoming craft fair of their own.

B-UHS Art teacher Heidi Thompson said an art fair featuring work from various student groups will open Tuesday, Dec. 12, from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., in the ag/shop room. Thompson explained where residents can find the fair, noting that directional signs will be displayed.

“If somebody were to drive around to the back of the school, we’re going to have some signs and holiday lights up, so it should be hard to miss,” Thompson said.

A significant number of students are participating, and there’s a wide variety of wares that will be available, she said.

“It’s an all-grades craft fair, so I can’t even get an idea of how many students are participating because just my group has about 20, and then we have some art students working on things, too, so each department or group has some different things happening, and there’s a lot of student involvement.”

The craft fair helps different student organizations earn money for various projects and field trips.

“They use the funds to support things like field trips, traveling to competitions, being able to purchase certain supplies or materials that they might need for like a special project,” Thompson said. “It’s also a really wonderful learning experience for them because they’re learning how to advertise, to make products and also interact with customers who are going to come and buy things.”

“We do have a lot of students who have been helpful in designing posters and who are creating the items, so the teachers are here to support them, but the students are really working hard to make this event happen,” she added.

Some of the items that will be offered include holiday décor, baked goods and coffee for shoppers.

“Some of the things we’ll have are customized wood cut-outs that can be personalized and painted either for a yard stake or a hanger, personalized tree skirts and real pine wreaths,” Thompson said. “The students are making baked goods, we’re going to have a coffee shop run by students, and we are going to have, of course, lots of holiday gift ideas like ornaments, cards and original art pieces from students.”