The Cotton Pickin' Fair

Here's Harold Smith, a woodcarver, at the Cotton Pickin' Fair.

I have two fairs that I'm partial to. The first is the Powers Crossroads arts and crafts festival that's held every Labor Day weekend in Newnan.

The other is the Cotton Pickin' Fair in Gay, Ga.

It's about 50 or so miles northeast of Columbus and it's always a lot of fun.

I remember going to Gay to the festival back in, oh, 1976 or so. It was just along the main drag in downtown Gay. All you had to do was park and walk a few minutes and you'd see everything.

Over the years, it's gotten huge! And so successful that someone has begun a fair across the street.

The difference is the original Cotton Pickin' Fair features artists and craftsmen who are juried by a panel.

There are two of these fairs. One is in May and the second is the first weekend in October. This year, it's  Oct. 4-5.

You'll be able to find pottery, fabrics, sculpture, woodcarving, paintings, jewelry, wearable art. Craftsmen will demonstrate whatever they are making.

There's plenty of entertainment in case you take your kids.

And the food! You'll love it. There's barbecue, of course, but all sorts of other food including sausage biscuits made by the Faith Chapel.

The fair is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Tickets are $5; $3 for children ages 4-12.

For information, go to www.cpfair.org or call 706-538-6814.