The Crane Country Day School Fair has been a Santa Barbara tradition for more than a quarter century, and the K-8 independent school will again open its fields to the community offering a festive, family fun day, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 27, at 1795 San Leandro Lane, Montecito.
“We try to come up with new ideas every year to enhance the fair,” said co-chair Meg Purdy, who is overseeing the event with fellow Crane mom Meggen Maloney.
“This year we have even more to educate and physically challenge fairgoers,” she said, referencing the 25-foot climbing wall and a timed Ninja obstacle course engineered by a Crane dad. Those who prefer a seated competition can gallop over to the new bouncing horse race geared to older kids and adults.
Also new is the Green Booth, where worm bins, owl boxes, bird houses, water bottles and other eco-friendly items will be sold. An interactive activity for kids will let them to make their own native seed balls. The Green Booth is spearheaded by Sarah Sheshunoff and Brook Eiler, who head up Crane’s green committee.
Activities back this year are a variety of jump houses, the cupcake walk, dunk tank, sack races, sponge toss, hairspray booth, and arts and crafts. Even the youngest visitors will find adventures such as the duck pond, a petting zoo, and a ride on the Wahooo pets.
All ages are invited to participate in the service learning booth, which entails packing 1,000 Direct Relief dental kits, to be dispersed both nationally and internationally to the nonprofit’s partner agencies.
The fair is a community event — it takes a team of parent volunteers to run the booths and dads man the grill serving hotdogs and hamburgers at Big Daddy’s BBQ. Alumni return to campus to assist with activities and this year Jaeda Spence (’17) and Zoe Stephens (’17) will serve as the DJs, spinning tunes throughout the day.
Refreshments will include vegetarian options provided by Food Liaison at the Healthy Hut, Scoops ice-cream, freshly squeezed lemonade, and the Country Kitchen selling such home-baked goods as pumpkin pies, jams and whimsically decorated cakes.
“I love the open, festive atmosphere the Country Fair exudes with kids safely running from one activity to the next while parents connect, and the whole school comes together,” said Joel Weiss, head of school. “It’s a wonderful way to gather the Crane community, but also to extend this camaraderie to the greater community to gather and play.”
Admission is free and the fair is open to the public, but tickets or a wristband must be purchased to participate in games and activities. For more information, visit www.craneschool.org.
Fair sponsors include Giffin & Crane, Purdy Pediatric Dentistry, Safeway Signs and SolWave.
For admissions information or to schedule a school tour, contact Erin Guerra, 805-969-7732 x106, or visit www.craneschool.org.
— Ann Pieramici for Crane Country Day School.