VALLE VISTA, Ariz. – The small town of Valle Vista, about 20 miles northeast of Kingman, may be modest in size, but it continues to prove it knows how to build community. Each year, residents rally around four major fundraising events to support their annual Fourth of July fireworks show — and this weekend’s fall craft fair was one of the biggest.
Niki Tillmann, a member of the Valle Vista fireworks committee, said the fair is about more than raising money.
“Every year, Valle Vista does a big fireworks show, and so the fireworks committee helps to generate all the funds to make that happen,” Tillmann said. “The more we can get people involved and get people together just to kind of give that sense of community, I think it’s great.”
For a town its size, Valle Vista continues to draw impressive crowds and a strong vendor turnout. This year’s fair brought in more than 70 vendors, with some traveling significant distances to participate.
“I think the farthest that I have spoken to today was from Parker,” Tillmann said — a trip of more than 100 miles.
Among the local vendors was one that stopped visitors in their tracks: insect jewelry.
Tim Schuster, a familiar face at regional festivals, explained how his unusual craft began.
“Well, oddly enough, I found the farm that grows the insects,” Schuster said. “So, they are actually grown, they’re not gathered, and the insects are well done. Because they’re grown on a farm the quality is much, much better.”
The insects — along with flowers and bits of sea life — are encased in clear Lucite acrylic and fashioned into necklaces and bracelets. Schuster said he discovered the idea 15 years ago and immediately knew it would be a hit.
“I told my wife, Gail, that’s a winner,” he said. “Immediately, when I started doing festivals, I could hardly keep stuff in stock. Scorpions sell the best. People love it,” Schuster said with a grin. “I have so much fun with kids. Festivals I do every year, all the kids would recognize that we are there, and they’d come running. It’s the bug guy!”
The craft fair is one of four annual events that help Valle Vista raise enough money to put on its popular Fourth of July fireworks show — a tradition the community takes pride in sustaining year after year.
