Santa waves from the Laramore House porch at Fresno Flats Historic Village and Park in Oakhurst on Saturday, Dec. 18. He was there to greet children and pose for pictures as part of the holiday celebration hosted by Mountain Artisans Market (MAM) members. Photos by Kellie Flanagan

Fresno Flats Historic Village and Park was filled with happy people celebrating the season as the Mountain Artists Market (MAM) and others assembled for a well-attended holiday fair on Saturday, Dec. 18 in Oakhurst.

Scores of vendors offered their locally handmade wares and hundreds of people showed up to take part in the fun.

Highlights included the musical entertainment of Sierra Singers, the Kamanawannaplaya Ukelele Club of Oakhurst, and scenes from Believe in Christmas which ran at the Golden Chain Theatre.

Matsumoto Samurai’s Kitchen served the crowd throughout the day.

More than 100 children stopped by the Eastern Madera Recreation and Parks booth to make crafts, while the Coarsegold 4-H set up a paper snowflake making booth and brought farm animals for show and tell.

Despite the busy nature of the season, Santa was on hand, relaxed and taking pictures with kids. If he can do it, so can we!

“I really am in awe of how MAM has evolved into the ‘village market’ I had envisioned in my mind two years ago,” said organizer and From My Garden Lavender products owner Sandy Schaefer.

Sandra and Paul Adelizi stand together on the grounds of Fresno Flats, where they spend so many hours organizing community activities for the nonprofit organization which raises funds for and runs the park.

Fresno Flats board leader Paul Adelizi, appropriately costumed with spouse Sandra, said the event was a success even though they weren’t sure leading up to it, since it’s hard to tell these days how many people will turn out.

“It was great!” Adelizi confirmed.

Oakhurst resident Ellen Saunders and Prather resident Brianna Melin, shown together at Fresno Flats, shared a booth featuring hand crocheted beanies and handmade art they created, respectively. Coarsegold 4-H member Adeline Fouch is pictured at Fresno Flats’ holiday fair holding a chicken. 4-H members hosted a booth and brought some of their farm animals to the yard of the Laramore House, answering questions from the enthusiastic crowd. Coarsegold 4-H made a huge contribution to the holiday fair by hosting a paper snowflake making booth and bringing some of their animals. Pictured from standing left are Tigerlily King, Alistair King, Conley King, Martien Van Hulst and Adeline Fouch; seated, Benjamin King and Bonnie Bodycomb. The sheep is named Tommy and the goat is Joyce. Naturally. Alycia Johnson is pictured at the Canyon Creek Grass Fed Beef booth at the Mountain Artisans Market at Fresno Flats. Johnson is the daughter of Randy Johnson who owns the 192-acre ranch in Raymond. Photo by Lisa Roan Kathy Zingrich of Coarsegold was selling her handmade bird houses at the Mountain Artisans Market at Fresno Flats, pictured with daughter Kristen Davis representing her own line of billfolds made from repurposed signed baseball gloves, friend Mikayla Buryear and granddaughter Aryana Hererra. Coarsegold 4-H member Ben King holds a silkie named Blue on his head while little brother Dillan looks on at Fresno Flats holiday fair with Mountain Artisans Market. Mountain Artists Market member Lisa Roan displays her wares including handmade crystal jewelry at Fresno Flats Historic Village and Park. Visitors to Fresno Flats on Dec. 18 were entertained by the Kamanawannaplaya Ukelele Club of Oakhurst, led by on this day by Laurie B. Ballard, which meets on Tuesdays at 3 p.m. in the Candace Flammang Community Room at the Oakhurst Library. Members include Ed Bailey, Joe Nelson, Nancy Gunning, Bonnie Bedford-White, Steve Wade, Sandy Chaile, Barbara Colliander, Kathy Costin, Liz Field, Larry and Linda Burke, Jean Russell and Doug Banta. Golden Chain Theatre cast members recreate scenes from their holiday show, Believe in Christmas, in the gazebo at Fresno Flats, where hundreds came out for a very successful Mountain Artisans Market fair. Photo by Kathy Zingrich Coarsegold 4-H member Martien Van Hulst shows off his prize quail and talks about quail eggs at Fresno Flats on Dec. 18. Santa stands on the porch of Laramore House at Fresno Flats in Oakhurst with Grace Walters. Grace and her family were helping out at the Mountain Artisans Market fair. Friant resident, MAM member and funky grandma Carrie Hess was among those who gathered on the bright a sunny Saturday for the Christmas fair at Fresno Flats. Donna Dozier peeks out from behind her curtained window display at her popular Hombre Blossoms booth at the Mountain Artisans Market. Don’t worry, she still does hair! Luanna Boatwright is seen with some of her handiwork at Fresno Flats event for the holidays. Ahwahnee resident Boatwright is a member of event organizers Mountain Artisans Market and sells her wares every month the group gathers. Strolling the grounds at Fresno Flats in period costume, docent Rebekah Thiessen entertained the crowd of hundreds with her talents on the violin. Kandie Stier and husband John Stier were selling their very popular frozen pork products, fresh baked goods and other items from their booth at Fresno Flats. Led by longtime Oakhurst resident and teacher Jackie Byers on piano, Sierra Singers entertained with caroling at the Mountain Artisans Market at Fresno Flats. Shown helping a customer, North Fork organic farmers Aaron Kern, Rebecca (Becca) Kern and their son Yarrow stayed active at their Kern Family Farm booth at the Mountain Artists Market fair at Fresno Flats. Fresno Flats volunteers, from left, Kris Hammons, Lissen Drusin and Jamey Drusin were telling stories and visiting inside Taylor Log Cabin at Fresno Flats, holding ducks Buttons and Muffin while dog Squishy relaxed on the floor. Mariposa-based David Bailey and Dana Tiel were busy selling bottles of their Sierra Cider at the Mountain Artisans Market at Fresno Flats in Oakhurst. Coarsegold resident Julie Adair sits in her booth of repurposed finds at the Mountain Artisans Market fair at Fresno Flats. North Fork resident Amanda De Masters helps a customer purchase one of her Summit Gardens creations at the Mountain Artisans Market event at Fresno Flats. Bobby Force of Candid Designs is shown representing the vividly colored concrete bowls and other items his wife Jessica designs for sale, as shown at Mountain Artisans Market. Mountain Artisans Market visionary Sandy Schaefer and helper Jamie Lentwich are shown in Sandy’s From My Garden lavender products booth. Sandy came up with the idea for Mountain Artisans about two years ago and was deferred by Covid restrictions but determined to prevail. The turnout for the weekend event at Fresno Flats was terrific and vendors reported good sales.

Oakhurst resident Ellen Saunders and Prather resident Brianna Melin, shown together at Fresno Flats, shared a booth featuring hand crocheted beanies and handmade art they created, respectively.

Coarsegold 4-H member Adeline Fouch is pictured at Fresno Flats’ holiday fair holding a chicken. 4-H members hosted a booth and brought some of their farm animals to the yard of the Laramore House, answering questions from the enthusiastic crowd.

Coarsegold 4-H made a huge contribution to the holiday fair by hosting a paper snowflake making booth and bringing some of their animals. Pictured from standing left are Tigerlily King, Alistair King, Conley King, Martien Van Hulst and Adeline Fouch; seated, Benjamin King and Bonnie Bodycomb. The sheep is named Tommy and the goat is Joyce. Naturally.

Alycia Johnson is pictured at the Canyon Creek Grass Fed Beef booth at the Mountain Artisans Market at Fresno Flats. Johnson is the daughter of Randy Johnson who owns the 192-acre ranch in Raymond. Photo by Lisa Roan

Kathy Zingrich of Coarsegold was selling her handmade bird houses at the Mountain Artisans Market at Fresno Flats, pictured with daughter Kristen Davis representing her own line of billfolds made from repurposed signed baseball gloves, friend Mikayla Buryear and granddaughter Aryana Hererra.

Coarsegold 4-H member Ben King holds a silkie named Blue on his head while little brother Dillan looks on at Fresno Flats holiday fair with Mountain Artisans Market.

Mountain Artists Market member Lisa Roan displays her wares including handmade crystal jewelry at Fresno Flats Historic Village and Park.

Visitors to Fresno Flats on Dec. 18 were entertained by the Kamanawannaplaya Ukelele Club of Oakhurst, led by on this day by Laurie B. Ballard, which meets on Tuesdays at 3 p.m. in the Candace Flammang Community Room at the Oakhurst Library. Members include Ed Bailey, Joe Nelson, Nancy Gunning, Bonnie Bedford-White, Steve Wade, Sandy Chaile, Barbara Colliander, Kathy Costin, Liz Field, Larry and Linda Burke, Jean Russell and Doug Banta.

Golden Chain Theatre cast members recreate scenes from their holiday show, Believe in Christmas, in the gazebo at Fresno Flats, where hundreds came out for a very successful Mountain Artisans Market fair. Photo by Kathy Zingrich

Coarsegold 4-H member Martien Van Hulst shows off his prize quail and talks about quail eggs at Fresno Flats on Dec. 18.

Santa stands on the porch of Laramore House at Fresno Flats in Oakhurst with Grace Walters. Grace and her family were helping out at the Mountain Artisans Market fair.

Friant resident, MAM member and funky grandma Carrie Hess was among those who gathered on the bright a sunny Saturday for the Christmas fair at Fresno Flats.

Donna Dozier peeks out from behind her curtained window display at her popular Hombre Blossoms booth at the Mountain Artisans Market. Don’t worry, she still does hair!

Luanna Boatwright is seen with some of her handiwork at Fresno Flats event for the holidays. Ahwahnee resident Boatwright is a member of event organizers Mountain Artisans Market and sells her wares every month the group gathers.

Strolling the grounds at Fresno Flats in period costume, docent Rebekah Thiessen entertained the crowd of hundreds with her talents on the violin.

Kandie Stier and husband John Stier were selling their very popular frozen pork products, fresh baked goods and other items from their booth at Fresno Flats.

Led by longtime Oakhurst resident and teacher Jackie Byers on piano, Sierra Singers entertained with caroling at the Mountain Artisans Market at Fresno Flats.

Shown helping a customer, North Fork organic farmers Aaron Kern, Rebecca (Becca) Kern and their son Yarrow stayed active at their Kern Family Farm booth at the Mountain Artists Market fair at Fresno Flats.

Fresno Flats volunteers, from left, Kris Hammons, Lissen Drusin and Jamey Drusin were telling stories and visiting inside Taylor Log Cabin at Fresno Flats, holding ducks Buttons and Muffin while dog Squishy relaxed on the floor.

Mariposa-based David Bailey and Dana Tiel were busy selling bottles of their Sierra Cider at the Mountain Artisans Market at Fresno Flats in Oakhurst.

Coarsegold resident Julie Adair sits in her booth of repurposed finds at the Mountain Artisans Market fair at Fresno Flats.

North Fork resident Amanda De Masters helps a customer purchase one of her Summit Gardens creations at the Mountain Artisans Market event at Fresno Flats.

Bobby Force of Candid Designs is shown representing the vividly colored concrete bowls and other items his wife Jessica designs for sale, as shown at Mountain Artisans Market.

Mountain Artisans Market visionary Sandy Schaefer and helper Jamie Lentwich are shown in Sandy’s From My Garden lavender products booth. Sandy came up with the idea for Mountain Artisans about two years ago and was deferred by Covid restrictions but determined to prevail. The turnout for the weekend event at Fresno Flats was terrific and vendors reported good sales.

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