On Jan. 31 TV Production held the first annual WinterFest, combining school fundraisers with craft sales, tag sales, children’s activities and a silent auction.

“It was great weather and a better time of year to hold the festival than the Fall-fest,” PTSA worker Peggy Hart said.

Twenty-seven booths were sold to different vendors, including PTSA, Secondhand Rose, the Seminole County Government, Mary Kay and the National Art Honor Society. Many of the tag-sale booths and crafters sold items such as jewelry, t-shirts, wreaths and household items.

However, only 200 people arrived and $250 was raised for TV Production, a lower amount than expected.

“We are quite disappointed with the turnout, we had the support of the vendors, but not of the community,” TV Production teacher Donna Parker said.

WinterFest was a TV Production fundraiser to raise money for equipment such as cameras and tripods, or in the case of NAHS or PTSA, to fund the club and activities. Individual vendors kept their profits after paying a $25 entry fee for crafters and a $40 intro fee for vendors.

Some of the vendors, however, did not even break even with the amount of money spent to order a booth.

“Not only myself, but other vendors as well had a poor turnout, which is a shame since you have the facility and a beautiful area around,” RoseMarie DeEsso said.

To get the word out, TV Production with the help of the school advertised via emails, posters and social media such as Facebook and Craigslist.
Along with the small turnout of buyers, two food trucks were scheduled but never showed.

Winterfest was a disappointment, according to Parker and the vendors, although there is still a possibility of another annual festival next year.