Edom’s fifth “old fashioned street fair” is set this year for April 17-18, and many of the same vendors and attractions are expected to return, event organizer Robin Marshall said.

“Every year, it has grown bigger and better with more visitors and better vendors. We have many return vendors who participate in both of our festivals and love coming to Edom. We also have a few vendors who offer unique retail products, such as gourmet jams and jellies and salsas, and unique fashion you can’t find just everywhere.”

April in Edom started in 2006, joining the Festival of the Arts as the town’s premier annual events.

It is “a dream to some of the local townspeople to have another venue in Edom for all the artists and crafters who don’t normally get approved for fine arts festivals to have an outlet to display and offer their hard work to the public,” Marshall said.

“It only seemed appropriate to have it in the Spring when the weather is great, the East Texas countryside is beautiful with trees leafing out and wild flowers blooming, and everyone ready to get out of the house.”

April in Edom drew more than 4,000 people last year despite rain. In 2008, over 9,000 showed for the twoday event that features a pet parade and contest, children’s ativities, and entertainment.

“Overall, April in Edom has drawn at least 25,000 people,” Marshall said. “Our first show in 2006 started with about 50 booths and we are up to 75, which is all we have room for along with the play area and entertainment.

“The day starts at 10 a.m. and wraps up around 5 p.m., when the Edom cruise night begins.”

The fair, Marshall said, begins at Edom United Methodist Church on Farmto Market Road 279 and extends a few blocks west to First State Bank of Ben Wheeler.

“Some of the local businesses in town are gracious enough to give up a few parking spaces to let us put up booths in front of their establishments,” Marshall said.

“Also, a great deal of the festival is located in front of First State Bank of Ben Wheeler, Edom Branch, where they give us access to their entire parking lot, as well as the Edom Water Department, which also gives us full access to their grounds.

“Edom Methodist parks cars in their parking lot and Edom Baptist youth department has a booth that offers free face and hair painting for kids.”

April in Edom differs from the Edom Festival of the Arts in that the October event is a “juried” fair. “Although we do have an acceptance committee, as we don’t want ‘flea market stuff,’ we are a bit more liberal and we are at the mercy of the shops and businesses in town for space, as we are billed as an ‘old fashioned street fair.’”

For more on the April event, call 903-852-4438, or you may send an e-mail to aprilinedom@hotmail. com, or visit aprilinedom. net.