Whistlestop Is Back For Another Year
Whistlestop Craft Sale
Friday 2 pm to 9 pm
Saturday 10 am to 5 pm
Moose Jaw Exhibition Convention Centre - 250 Thatcher Drive East
Daily Admission is $5. Kids 12 and under are free
A decades old tradition starts today as the Whistlestop Craft Sale runs Friday October 20th and Saturday October 21st at the Moose Jaw Exhibition Convention Centre - 250 Thatcher Drive East.
Admission is $5 but also includes the opportunity to win a door prize drawn every hour - for the hour you enter the show.
Running for over 20 years the show that was born out of love, hard work and determination by the late Shelley Bader, with the help of her husband the late Ron Bader, Whistlestop is bigger than ever.
“It’s been going good. We figured out over the years how to make it better. We have a good reputation so people all about us. It’s not very hard to get vendors now because we have a good sale,” co-show organizer Kimber Bader told MJ Independent.
This year’s show features 60 vendors compared to last year’s 55 vendors.
Vendors are offering “a little bit of everything,” Bader said about the wide range of products available.
“Everything offered here is handmade by the people who are selling it. So there is food. There is crafts. There is pottery. There is art. There is all kinds of stuff,” she said.
Vendors this year come from a variety of places including Manitoba and Alberta with the majority of the vendors from Saskatchewan.
“We have tons of vendors from small towns from all over southern Saskatchewan,” Bader said.
Since its humble beginnings at the former CPR passenger station - hence the name Whistlestop. Whistlestop grew largely by Shelley’s efforts with Ron’s assistance.
From humble beginnings to pre-COVID 19 restrictions in 2019 Whistlestop grew from a few to 65 vendors.
This year’s 60 vendors might seem a dip in attendance but this year the Exhibition’s Convention Centre is full as many vendors have requested extra space beyond the regular sized booths.
“We have grown since COVID (restrictions) which is good.”
Asked if it was tough to run Whistlestop after Shelley’s passing in 2021 Kimber said her late mother-in-law is there in spirit.
“The first year after she was gone we definitely did it to honour her. You know I can just feel her here every year when we do it.”
Bader said she sees the show as the kickoff to Christmas shopping with many people looking for that limited or one of a kind handmade Christmas gift.
“People come out looking to buy that handmade Christmas gift or some decorations for their house,” she said.
Asked about what the most sought after item on an annual basis she said it’s a lot of a bit of everything that people are looking for.
“I think a lot of people come out for the food.”
Although the Downtown Moose Jaw Association is running their major promotion Christmas In October next weekend Bader doesn’t see the events as competing but complimenting each other.
If people attending would like to see what Whistlestop has to offer and the go and checkout what Downtown has to offer and then come back the show will stamp your hand to allow re-entry without paying the $5 admission again for the same day.
People who attend the show come from Moose Jaw and surrounding communities. Regina shoppers are often in attendance. With others coming from further afield.
Last year a bus tour from Calgary stopped in to Whistlestop while also stopping in downtown to attend Christmas In October.