Sisters celebrates turn of the seasons

The Harvest Moon has hung its head, the harvest season is over and last weekend in Sisters was an opportunity to celebrate.

In spite of the chill in the air, crowds thronged Hood Avenue to enjoy all the spectacular exhibits brought in for the 34th year by the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce.

"It's the chamber's largest event and brings a lot of people to Sisters," said Event Coordinator Jeri Buckmann. "Our 175 vendors had a great time and got to enjoy Sisters' lodging and restaurants. We had a booth-decorating contest for the first time this year, and the three winners received awards and a basket full of Sisters Country memorabilia."

Shops also opened their doors, welcoming the celebrants and shoppers. Clearwater Gallery gave away 150 copies of artist Dan Rickards' latest work, as he has for several years. People lined up down the block to receive the print.

"The important thing is that all these events bring people into Sisters to support the community," Rickards commented.

Harvest Faire attendees from Anderson, California, Scott and Liz Schneider, came to Sisters for Rickards' print.

"We came for the print," Scott said. "The festival is just a perk. We love coming to Sisters."

Food and merriment have been key ingredients of harvest festivals since ancient times, and Sisters' Harvest Faire offered an abundant food court, music and a large variety of vendors' juried offerings. Michael Kevin Daly performed on Saturday, and the Moon Mountain Ramblers sang bluegrass on Sunday. There was a play area for the kids, sponsored by Sisters Christian Academy.

China has one of the most honored harvest festivals, called the Moon Festival; it has been around for about 3,000 years. David Perkins, Mandarin instructor at Sisters High School, was at the festival with two of his students, KC and Sabitri Dolson, raffling a quilt donated by the Black Butte Ranch Art Guild to raise funds to send his students to China this summer.

There were artists who impressed just by their skill and mastery at their craft. Anita Yager, of Harvest Moon, exhibited her wire-wrapped gemstones. Those who have attempted wire wrapping might say her work demonstrated the perfected craftsmanship that only comes after years of work.

"Actually, I've been doing this for two years. I started with just two classes and went from there," Yager said.

At an adjacent booth, the Sisters Area Veterans Assistance group proudly introduced their guest, Harold Mulligan, Pearl Harbor survivor. Mulligan was on the USS Rigel R11 on Pier 13 on December 7, 1941. Mulligan also served at Guadalcanal in 1942 and later was in a ship that served as a minesweeper off Iwo Jima and watched as Marines raised the flag on Mount Suribachi.

Visitor Carolyn Barr, of Sunriver, has been coming to the faire for several years.

"I love to come to Sisters, but the important part is to support local artists," Barr said. She has her favorite vendors who she likes to visit year after year. "Look at these pure beeswax candles," she said. "Not all wax is pure. These are. Even the wicks are pure."

The Hero Quilters' 150-piece quilt, made in celebration of Oregon's 150th anniversary, has been moved to the Chamber. Raffle tickets are still being sold. They are $1 each or six for $5. The drawing will be held November 7 at the Sisters Chamber-sponsored Timber to Turned Wood event.