Event offers crafts, pesto, live entertainment and more

For the City Times

With more vendors than ever before – not to mention more of its famous sweet basil pesto – Redeemer Lutheran Church is preparing for its third annual Crafticopia, a “craft show and more” to be held 9 AM -4 PM Saturday, on Oct. 15.

Crafticopia has expanded the number of vendors from more than 40 vendors to more than 50. The vendors will be offering handcrafted specialty items and gifts ranging from soap to outdoor sculpture.

Crafticopia in 2015. (Contributed)

However, one of the main draws for many attendees is RLC’s homemade Sweet Basil Pesto, crafted mostly from basil grown at the church garden and mixed in the church’s own kitchen, according to a recipe supplied by long-time RLC member Bill Zimdars.

The show also features pumpkins and other harvest-time produce, kids’ activities, a bake sale, “pestoburgers,” and live entertainment.

cwACT will headline this year’s entertainment. The theater group will perform pieces from its upcoming production of “Into The Woods”.

Dance Education Center will perform, and Charys Hess, founder of Transcribing Dance Company, will conduct a special “Family Moves” class for children and parents.

Anticipating a “pesto rush,” the church has tripled the number of jars of the precious condiment from its first year. Even so, show organizers say they expect it to sell out by noon.

Crafticopia also serves as an opportunity for the church to spotlight its community partners, which include SHAMA, Lutheran Social Services, the Mobile Food Pantry, and the Winter Farmers’ Market.

For more information on Crafticopia, contact the church at 715-341-3233 or email [email protected] Crafticopia can also be followed on Facebook at “Crafticopia Stevens Point.

The church is located at 900 Brilowski Rd. in Stevens Point.