If you’re looking for an opportunity to show off an ugly sweater from your wardrobe on a fancy catwalk, make sure to hit this weekend’s Women’s Fair Holiday event at Century II.
“The uglier, the better,” said Sari Schrepferman, co-owner of the Women’s Fair.
The winner of the ugly sweater contest, happening at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 9, will receive tickets to the Oct. 15 Toby Keith concert at Intrust Bank Arena.
The contest is just one of many activities — ranging from cooking and project demos to hair and fashion shows — happening at the new Women’s Fair fall shopping and demonstration event Oct. 8-10
In their second year of running the popular event — which traditionally has been a once-a-year annual affair happening in the early months of the year, co-owners Schrepferman and Kathleen Yeoman added a second Women’s Fair this year.
The Oct. 8-10 Women’s Fair is filling the void created when the Junior League of Wichita canceled its long-running Holiday Galleria shopping weekend in October for the second year in a row.
The timing of the fall Women’s Fair is a great shopping opportunity for “all things holiday,” Schrepferman said.
In this case, holiday isn’t a euphemism for Christmas but includes several cultural and religious holidays happening over the next few months, including Halloween, Thanksgiving, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, winter solstice, Las Posadas, Diwali, New Year’s Eve and Chinese New Year.
Here are 10 things to do at the fall Women’s Fair:
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Shop, shop, shop. The fair will include more than 200 vendors who will sell a variety of goods ranging from unique apparel, live plants and home décor to jams, kitchen wares, wines, gourmet dips, cocoa bombs, lotions and jewelry. Girl Scouts are offering free gift-wrapping.
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Taste locally made, fruit-infused sangria during a wine tasting with Brian Miller of the family-owned Simply Sangria winery in Wichita at 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8.
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Learn how to use techniques such as braiding and hair extensions to create fairy hairstyles from Pigtails & Crewcuts stylists at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 9.
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Make a splatter art project with Brandi Phifer, owner of Pinspiration, a do-it-yourself craft studio based on Pinterest projects, at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 9.
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Show off your ugliest sweater in a contest at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9.
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Learn to make three dressing recipes served in bygone Wichita restaurants at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9. Denise Neil, Wichita Eagle food writer and author of the recently released “Classic Restaurants of Wichita,” will prepare and share the recipes for garlic salad from Ken’s Klub, fruit salad dressing from Elizabeth’s Tea Room, and hazel dressing and salad from Magnolia Café. Neil will also sign copies of her book, which is available for purchase at the fair.
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Add spice to your charcuterie board as registered dietician Kelsey Farnet, registered dietitian, shares a seasoned hummus recipe using Nourished Roots Co.’s line of spices at 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9.
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Satisfy your pet’s sweet tooth during a pet-treat making cooking demo by Happy Tails Pet Bakery at noon Sunday, Oct. 10.
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Get crafty and learn to make a penny-pinching seasonal décor vignette from Angie Christenson, owner of Ruffled Nest Décor, at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 10.
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See the latest apparel trends during fashion shows happening daily on the event’s main stage.
A complete schedule can be found at womensfairholiday.com.
Wichita Women’s Fair Holiday event
When: noon-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9; and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 10
Where: Century II Expo Hall, 225 W. Douglas
Admission: $10 ages 13 and older, $9 ages 65 and older, $6 children ages 7-12, and free for children 6 and younger. Tickets available at wichitatix.com or at the door.
Parking: Free shuttles available for those parking for free at former Gander Mountain parking lot, 605 S. Wichita. Regular Century II parking, some paid and some free, is available.
More info: womensfairholiday.com