Oma’s ready for 41st year at fairgrounds Two-day event raises funds for upkeep, scholarships, flood victims
While Oma’s Christmas Fair started to help pay for Kendall County Fairground upgrades, the handmade/handcrafted bazaar now enters its 41st year to support a number of worthy enterprises including flood relief.
The event, created by the Women’s Auxiliary of the Kendall County Fair Association, runs 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the fairgrounds on River Road, according to volunteers.
In addition to helping with scholarships, fairground upkeep and more, Oma’s will be accepting donations for the Center Point Fire Department, which sustained significant damage during the catastrophic July Fourth flooding, an official said.
Tax-donation forms will be available if requested.
This year’s annual food and toy drive benefits families from Kendall and Kerr counties affected by the summer disaster. Oma’s shoppers can bring four canned good items or two unwrapped toys for $2 off the admission charge.
Gift cards or monetary contributions will be accepted; those with a balance of $25 or more will allow a shopper free admission for both days.
Regular admission is $5 for two days, with free parking. Veterans and first responders will be admitted for free, said volunteers.
The initial Women’s Auxiliary fundraising and beautification project became known as “Oma’s” and honored auxiliary member Theresa Sultenfuss and her husband, Alvin.
They were known as “Oma” and “Opa” for years for their avid backing of the association and the fairgrounds.
Another “Oma” was Clara Marguardt, an association member and a charter member of the auxiliary. She was known for the bonnet she wore when working at the fairgrounds; so much so that a picture of a bonnet in her honor was used for the first Oma’s logo.
Her bonnet is on display in the Auxiliary History showcase cabinet in the Exhibit Hall.
The first Oma’s Christmas Fair coincided with “December Hill County Christmas Shopping Days” over two days in December 1984.
Forty-one years later, the two-day handcrafted/handmade show has grown from its original 35 vendors in one hall to more than 100 vendors filling three halls.
Dorothy Busy and Ann Reissig first co-chaired the craft show, officials said. Since then, co-chairs have included Mary Ann Pankratz, Laura Taylor, Barbara Singer, Sally Beer, Anna DeGrott and Anita Anderson.
In 2011, after 27 years sponsoring Oma’s, the dissolution of the Women’s Auxiliary was being finalized and there loomed a real possibility 2011 would be the last Oma’s Christmas Fair, volunteers said.
But Marilyn Culak, an auxiliary member and fair director at the time, addressed the board during its February monthly director’s meeting, advocating for continuing Oma’s Christmas Fair, urging the association to sponsor the event and offering her services as chairwoman for 2012.
Directors voted to continue Oma’s if Culak would take over coordinating the event, a role she has held ever since.
Beloved traditions are also continuing with the 41st year, officials said.
“Lunch with Santa” is slated from noon to 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
Pictures and a visit with Santa are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.
Santa lunch tickets, $5 apiece, will be available at the New Hall admissions door. Children can enjoy Santa Land activities. Those ages 4 to 12 can enter the ninth annual Coloring Contest; however, entries are due at the fairgrounds Friday. Copies of the coloring contest page can be found at: kcfa.org. Click on “Events/ Oma’s Christmas Fair” and then “Oma’s Christmas Fair Day 1.” Scroll down to “2025 Coloring Contest Page,” click and print the page and the contest application.
While Oma’s offers handcrafted/ handmade items only, updated health regulations prohibit the sale of home-baked treats and Christmas goodies, unless prepared and baked at the fairgrounds, sponsors said. Store-purchased goodies can be resold.
Funds generated from vendors’ fees and shoppers’ admission continue to support two KCFA projects, beautification of the fairgrounds and local youth scholarships. Proceeds paid for the 2016 beautification project to the front entrance to the fairgrounds and new metal bucking chutes and upgrades of the stock pens at the rodeo arena in 2022.
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