Rotary Club steps in to sponsor the 48th annual event
After learning last week that a show promoter had abandoned
efforts to produce San Juan Bautista’s Aug. 8 antique faire, locals
were concerned about whether the event would take place.
However, the city’s Rotary Club recently announced that it would
step in to save the show by becoming the event’s sponsoring
organizer.
Rotary Club steps in to sponsor the 48th annual event
After learning last week that a show promoter had abandoned efforts to produce San Juan Bautista’s Aug. 8 antique faire, locals were concerned about whether the event would take place.
However, the city’s Rotary Club recently announced that it would step in to save the show by becoming the event’s sponsoring organizer.
With less than three weeks before the show was to happen, the original promoter said it was unable to sign up enough vendors to justify the costs, so it cancelled its involvement.
Begun 47 years ago as “The Antique Flea Market” by the San Juan Bautista Service Club, the event had until recently been run by the city’s chamber of commerce.
Structural reorganization and personnel issues forced the chamber to abandon its sponsorship, so a citizens’ committee worked to secure the new promoter.
After the promoter backed out, the committee approached the Rotarians about stepping in.
Since then, more than 120 vendors have been called and booth fees were cut significantly to encourage more sign-ups.
Volunteers produced new flyers and the Rotary Club recreated a new show contract.
Antiques writer Steven Yvaska of the San Jose Mercury will be at the show from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to offer free appraisals and more than 90 percent of the downtown merchants have pledged their presence by having booths at the faire.
Local nonprofits that rely on the event for fundraising will be represented, such as Boy Scout Troop #428, which will sell hot dogs, the San Juan Library, which will sell books and other goods, as well as other organizations.
The antique faire will be held Sunday, Aug. 8 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown San Juan Bautista.
For more information about the antiques faire, contact Donna Holmes at 623-1168 or Halina Kleinsmith at 623-9275.
