Michael and Erica Heery of Lehighton started the Lehighton Handmade Holiday Craft Show 11 years ago.

This past Saturday was the 13th annual event, presented by the Lehighton Rotary Club. It started as just a craft show, but eventually evolved into an event to help serve the community.

This year’s festival was a bittersweet one for Erica. Michael Heery, co-founder of the festival and Erica’s husband for 18 years, passed away Oct. 24. While it was difficult for her to be there, celebrating Michael’s legacy with the festival is something she wants and needs to do.

“Mike’s legacy was to make Carbon County a better place to live, learn, work, and play,” Erica said. “This legacy of Michael’s will live on in projects like this, because he’s the one who started it. It’s been one of life’s blessings. If we continue that, then his legacy will never end.”

The show featured almost 50 artisans from the area with a wide variety of craft items for sale. Proceeds are used by the Lehighton Rotary Club for its Dictionary Project, in which the club hands out dictionaries to all third grade students in Lehighton and Palmerton. The club also awards scholarships each year and helps in other areas.

The festival also collected donations for the Zion UCC Feed-a-Neighbor Food Pantry, Carbon County Animal Shelter, Carbon County Friends of Animals, and St. Peter’s Resource Center in Weissport. Sales from the lottery ticket basket will be divided among those organizations.

Lehigh Valley Hospital-Carbon was title partner of the show. Other sponsors were: Star partner, EricasClayKitchen.com; media partner, WMGH Magic 105; gold partner, Thrivent Financial - Susan Lovejoy; volunteer partners, Franklin Township Fire Co. Fire Police, and Auxiliary, Pa. Association of School Retirees, students from Lehighton Area High School; and Sword Tag Society.

Donations from the Selfies With Santa will be presented to St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital in memory of Bob Eulo and Michael A. Heery.

Almost 50 artisans had tables and booths set up selling everything from holiday decor, candles, art work, wood crafts, jewelry, musical instruments and more.

Susan U. Noble, of Frackville, who started last year doing art and craft shows, sold framed paintings and drawing.

“I graduated from Kutztown University with a bachelor’s degree in art, and worked for a hobby company in Reading until I was laid off,” she said. “I was here at the show in April; I loved it and had a really good day, so I decided to do this one. I’m hoping I do well today; I hope everyone does, too.”

Barry McCue of Bear Box Guitars had a display of musical instruments, mostly guitars, that he made himself.

“I didn’t make many instruments until COVID hit,” McCue said, “then I had a lot of time to fill.”

In addition to the artisans, the festival also featured photos with Santa, homemade food, basket auction, face painting, archery range with the Sword Tag Society, Buster the Clown, lottery basket raffles, plus live music featuring Cindie of Autumn Falls Entertainment, and great food and drink, and an outdoor holiday market.

Lehighton Rotary Club will also hold a St. Nicholas Project Dec. 6 at Ss Peter & Paul Church, Lehighton.

“We put on a program for families in need to help them give their children a nice Christmas,” Heery said. “We will give the children new coats from the Knights of Columbus, and the Lehighton Rotary will donate gifts as well. The children will receive gifts and a holiday dinner, plus photos with Santa.”

To make a donation or for more information, contact Erica Heery at 610-377-9076 or email: handmadeholidaycraftshow@yahoo.com. Also visit the Facebook pages for the Lehighton Rotary or the Lehighton Holday Craft show.

“We’re here to help our fellow men and women, because if we don’t do that, then what is the point of us being here?” Erica said. “Keep Michael’s legacy alive and keep the Spirit of Christmas in your hearts.”