Sandoval County Holiday Craft Fair Supports Local Artisans and Staff

As the holiday shopping season approaches, Sandoval County residents will have an opportunity to buy locally made gifts and support county employees at the seventh annual holiday craft fair hosted by the Sandoval County Employee Appreciation Committee, known as SCEAC. The fair runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 14 in the lobby of the county administration building at 1500 Idalia Road, Building D in Bernalillo.

More than 30 vendors are scheduled to offer a range of items, including toys, jewelry, clothing and food delicacies. Organizers advise shoppers to bring cash, because there is no ATM on the premises. For additional information residents can contact Nikki Holm Garcia at 505.867.7550 or nholm@sandovalcountynm.gov, and Cynthia Saiz at 505.867.7611 or csaiz@sandovalcountynm.gov.

The fair serves multiple civic functions. For shoppers it provides access to handcrafted products from local makers at a time of heightened consumer activity. For county employees it functions as a fundraising and community building exercise. SCEAC uses proceeds from events like this to finance employee appreciation activities, including an annual holiday dinner. The committee operates on volunteer labor from county staff and explicitly does not use taxpayer dollars for its events.

Holding the fair in the county administration building delivers practical benefits and raises governance questions that matter to voters. The venue offers visibility and convenience near county services, which can increase foot traffic for vendors and strengthen ties between public employees and the community. At the same time the arrangement merits simple institutional transparency. Officials have made clear that SCEAC events are supported by employee volunteers and self generated funds rather than public revenue, which helps maintain separation between county administrative functions and employee led fundraising.

Local economic impact is modest but tangible. Holiday craft fairs concentrate buying power in local communities, circulating money to small entrepreneurs and food producers. The cash only advisory may affect both vendor sales and customer participation, particularly for residents who rely on card payments, so the lack of an onsite ATM is a practical detail attendees should note.

The event offers Sandoval County residents a chance to find unique gifts, meet local makers and support county staff efforts to recognize one another. As counties balance use of public spaces for community events with needs for openness and accountability, SCEAC’s annual fair provides a transparent example of employee led activity housed within county facilities.