CARLI BERRY
news@pqbnews.com
Pie is the word at this year’s St. Mark’s Fair in Qualicum Beach.
The “Holy Rollers” will be back with their pies, last year selling 300 in approximately two hours, Carol Wilke, advertising coordinator, said.
St. Mark’s Fair will have a variety of food, live music and children’s activities available Saturday, July 25, from
8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“It started as a flea market,” Wilke said, with only a few people. The first one was held in the church but it grew to over 140 vendors, some of which have been with the fair for over 10 years.
She said she expects there to be around 10,000 people this year.
Each spring St. Mark’s church along with the Town of Qualicum Beach, curling club, Royal Canadian Legion and The Gardens of Qualicum Beach start planning for the event, Wilke said.
“The preparation for the next fair starts as soon as the last fair is over.”
There will be a children’s corner for creating crafts as well as face painting and other activities for the children.
“I think it has become a huge community event that benefits the whole area.”
The Qualicum Beach Farmer’s Market will also be held on Saturday along with the Art in Action art fair at The Old School House Arts Centre.
Wilke said she hopes they raise around $18,000 but they have raised as much as $20,000 in the past.
The money goes back to the community in various ways, she said. One year the money was donated to the food bank, another year to Young Life in Qualicum Beach.
Parking will be available at the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre and Kwalikum Secondary School.
Wilke said to bring your own shopping bags as “we like to be environmentally friendly.”
