Mammoth Festival draws enthusiastic fans and builds business for artisans

Events like Mammoth Fest give local artisans the opportunity to do what they love and share their work with the public.

Often times, people who buy from smaller, local events become loyal customers.

“We get a constant stream of repeat customers when we're out and about,” said Nancy Sanner of Hempfield.

She makes jewelry, and her husband, Rich Sanner, makes decorative wooden items, and through Creations by Rich and Nancy, the couple is able to pursue their hobbies, including one that Nancy Sanner started as a way to keep herself busy while quitting smoking.

“I love it. I love being out in public and talking to people,” she said.

At Mammoth Fest, held Sunday at Mammoth Park in Mount Pleasant Township, shoppers perused dozens of booths along a promenade while other festival-goers interacted with animals at the petting zoo, bought food and took turns riding carnival rides and games. Several bands performed, and kids got up close and personal with rescued animals through Exotic Edventures.

Chris Goodman, from Youngwood, sent his four-year-old daughter Emilia down the colorful slide in a burlap sack.

“I like to support all kinds of local events,” he said.

Community events like these are key to expanding the reach of craftspeople. The Sanners started putting on shows about a decade ago, but have scaled them back.

“We do this almost every year,” Nancy Sanner said.

But it was the first time Karen Morris, the South Park resident who started Fashionably Chic Baby as a way to stave off boredom after retirement, was at Mammoth Fest selling her hand-sewn baby, dog and home goods, including bibs, bandanas and table runners.

“I make everything myself. I go into the basement for fabric, so that's all the fabric I have,” she said with a laugh.

She began appearing on the show after the coronavirus pandemic and now travels around the region looking for new clients.

“The show gets me outside,” Morris says, “and I get to meet amazing people.”