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The Panther Creek fall arts and craft fair has become the ghost of Christmas past

By: WOL Staff
| Published 11/09/2014

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THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- The Grinch really didn’t steal the annual Panther Creek fall craft fair, but those who pencil this traditional event on their calendars are wondering why the event wasn’t scheduled this year.

According to Lorraine Richardson, the event’s promoter, it’s become just another ‘evolutionary casualty.’ The event was conceived by Pete Lampros, the owner of Frame Craft - Lampros Gallery, which originally was located in the Panther Creek Shopping Center.

“Pete came up with the idea to encourage shopping in the center to kick off the holidays and share tidings of the season with the local residents,” said Richardson.

”This was before an out-of-state investor bought the real estate, and before The Woodlands had a shopping mall. “A different culture has evolved in the center, and the local fairs just aren’t something they’re interested in,” added Richardson.

Richardson said it was more than just an arts and crafts fair. The community came together, neighbors exchanged greetings while shopping; it provided that small home-town feel that The Woodlands always took pride in.

Many of the small ‘mom and pop’ shops moved out of the center due to the escalating rent, and larger chain stores took their place.

The small retail merchants are still in the community, but dispersed. Three favorites, Frame Craft - Lampros Gallery, is located on the northwest corner of Oak Ridge and Nursery, one block west of I-45N, the Candy House is south of McCullough Junior High at 27160 Glen Loch Drive, but the gift shop, October Gave a Party, is long since gone.

Also gone is the annual arts and craft fair with its homemade Christmas stockings, artistic one-of-a-kind jewelry to stuff them with, holiday door wreaths, and wonderfully crafted children’s toys. Suffice it to say, the fall Panther Creek craft fair has become the ghost of Christmas past.

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