40th Annual Kings River Hardwick Calico Art Festival slated for Oct. 19

40th Annual Kings River Hardwick Calico Art Festival slated for Oct. 19

The 40th Annual Kings River Hardwick Parent Booster Club's Calico Art Festival, will be held on October 19 on the school’s campus located at 10300 Excelsior Avenue in Hanford.  The Parent Booster Club (PBC) is comprised of parents and guardians of students enrolled in Kings River Hardwick Elementary School.

The mission of the PBC is to work together to find creative ways to provide support for the students and teachers at Kings River Hardwick Elementary School, a public charter school for K-8 students.

The first involvement of parents at the school began when mothers with students attending the school formed the “Mother’s Club.”  Claudia Sheldon’s mother in law was the first official president of the club when the school was simply Kings River School and students rode horses to school. She remembers it as a social club. “It wasn’t a money making club,” said Sheldon. “It was the only time women who lived in the country could get cleaned up, wear a dress and be with friends.” 

She fondly remembers attending the meetings at members’ homes and feasting on homemade pies.  “Some of us still had black on our hands and knees from harvesting the walnuts.”  Some years later, Diane Viera and Wilhelmina “Willie” Camara, mothers and known crafters, began selling their creations to raise money for the school.

Once other “crafters” within the community heard, they were interested as well.  The fundraiser was referred to as Kings River Hardwick Carnival and it was held one fall evening in the circle driveway at the school.  Each crafter had to donate a $5-$10 craft to Bingo.  In addition to the craft fair and Bingo, attendees enjoyed deep pit bbq and simple games for kids, such as Cake Walk and Bean Bag throw. 

The first Calico Art Festival was held on a Sunday afternoon in October 1974, in the teacher parking lot just west of the District Office.  Willie Camera was the creator of the Calico cat, which became the mascot of the festival, and used these cats colored by students, as decorations in the cafeteria. 

Claudia Sheldon of Hanford, was President of the Parent Teacher Club (PTC), which marked the first year that teachers participated in the fundraiser.  Claudia remembers forming committees for the first time to help plan the event. 

Added to the festival were more carnival games for kids, Farmers Market and crafters grew to become Artisans.  “Everyone from Lemoore and Hanford was at the festival.  We raised money for band uniforms and playground equipment,” according to Sheldon.

The 40th year of the Festival will have the original activities: Bingo, Carnival, Farmer’s Market, Food Court as well as a Car Show, Sweet Shop and the biggest draw, Silent Auction.  The Calico Art Festival is now an all-day event, starting at 11 a.m. and ending at 5 p.m., with last call for Silent Auction bids at 4:00pm.

The festival draws crowds from all over the San Joaquin Valley both as vendors and attendees.  In celebration of the 40th Anniversary and to honor Willie Camara, who passed this summer, attendees will see the original calico cat colored by current students at KRH displayed throughout the school.  Don’t miss this great family activity.

For information on how to be a vendor, please contact 559-584-4475 x175.  For general information about the festival, visit www.krhsd.k12.ca.us and click Parent Booster Club.

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