The Middletown Band Booster Association will present its first craft fair, featuring more than 60 vendors, at Middletown Area High School, 1155 N. Union St., Middletown, on Saturday, April 15, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free, and food concessions will be available for sale.

Crafters will be located in the school cafeteria and surrounding hallways. The craft vendors will offer a variety of items for sale such as skin care products, specialty soaps, handmade candles, quilted and knitted items, dog and cat items, baked goods and seasonal decor as well as fine woodworking, jewelry, fused glass and resin home decor.

In addition, shoppers will have an opportunity to win craft items that have been donated by the participating vendors.

Proceeds from the craft fair, the food concessions and the prize drawings will be used by the boosters to fund the cost of a new, larger band trailer for the high school's Blue Wave Marching Band. "The current trailer has been a fixture of the band since 1996, and we've outgrown it," said Becky Carpenter, association president. "This fall, the band had to take two trucks with trailers as well as a box truck in order to transport all of the necessary equipment and instruments for their field show. A much larger trailer would allow everything to be transported with only one truck. (The old trailer) has more than served its purpose. We will keep it as a backup."

Carpenter noted that band members will help with setup at the craft show and provide assistance to the vendors.

The Middletown Band Boosters modeled their craft show after a similar event presented by the Lower Dauphin Band Boosters. "I went to the Lower Dauphin craft fair in November," Carpenter said. "Their boosters had a table, and I (introduced myself) and explained what we were trying to do. Their band boosters were instrumental in providing us with information to help us get up and running." For example, she said, the Lower Dauphin Band Boosters sent out an email to all the crafters in their show, making them aware of the upcoming show at Middletown.

Carpenter said that the help came even though students from Middletown and Lower Dauphin high schools are rivals on the playing field. "(The two schools play each other) as the first football game each year," Carpenter noted. "But when you are in the band community, everyone pitches in to help. If we can help another organization, we all do."

The Middletown Band Booster Association's mission is to provide financial, logistical and moral support to the band programs of the Middletown Area School District. The association predominantly consists of parents of both middle and high school students who are band members, including marching band, concert band, jazz band, color guard and percussion ensemble. Matthew Landrum is the high school band director, and Sam Fisher is the middle school band director.

For more information about the craft fair, search for "MAHS Band Booster Association" on Facebook or contact mdtbbcraftfair@gmail.com.